Clydeside 2023 Limited Edition

Clydeside 2023 Limited Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
60.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, malted grains, fresh baked bread, cocoa nibs, vanilla. With water, cream, chocolate, white pepper, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Dates, sarsaparilla, fresh cut grass, chocolate, cherries, black pepper. With water, cocoa nibs, vanilla, cough syrup, sarsaparilla. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, dates, raisins. 

Comments: 

Sweet and rich, with lots of sticky toffee pudding notes. Water brings out herbal sarsaparilla, as well as chocolate cream on the nose. A very good dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Clydeside Napier

Clydeside Napier

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cola nuts, sarsaparilla, chocolate, malted grains, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Strawberry jam, dates, sarsaparilla, cough syrup, vanilla, cherries, chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, strawberry jam, vanilla, cherries. 

Comments: 

Sweet, lots of fruit and dates, and more than a smidgen of cough syrup and cherries. It’s rich, yet light. The whisky then fades to a spicy finish. Rather good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Clydeside New Make Spirit

Clydeside New Make Spirit

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Colourless
63.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, yoghurt, malted grains, lemon zest, lemon juice, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, green apples, yoghurt, cream, malted grains, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, yoghurt, strawberry jam, cream, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Malty new make, a little less spicy than some others I’ve had. Lots of fruity notes and that ever present grass. Promising stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clydeside Stobcross

Clydeside Stobcross

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, raisins, milk chocolate, green apples, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, expands, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Caramel, raisins, vanilla, fresh cut grass, barley sugar, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Green apples, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, vanilla. 

Comments: 

This is a mix of the previous two cask samples. It’s grassy and appley, lots of sweet malty notes, with a little citrus and vanilla. It’s well engineered and tasty indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clydeside Sherry Cask Sample

Clydeside Sherry Cask Sample

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, leather, dates, cola nuts, strawberry jam, cocoa nibs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Dates, leather, malted grains, fresh cut grass, hints of toast. 
Finish: Medium. Dates, raisins, cocoa nibs, cola nuts. 

Comments: 

Sweet, lots of dates and sticky toffee pudding notes, but there’s also a grassy, herbal edge. Interesting whisky, but it shows a lot of the cask, as you’d expect from a sample for blending.

Verdict:

I like this.

Clydeside Bourbon Cask Sample

Clydeside Bourbon Cask Sample

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands 
Very pale gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, malted grains, leather, vanilla, salt caramel, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Leather, lemon juice, salt caramel, fresh cut grass, green apples. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, malted grains, vanilla, lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Stripped back, malty whisky, lots of apple and savoury notes. Extremely promising as a cask sample, tastes like a young Auchentoshan. I’d happily drink this on its own.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenkinchie 16yo Four Corners of Scotland

Glenkinchie 16yo Four Corners of Scotland

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark green gold
50.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, fresh cut grass, apricots, malted grains, lemon zest, leather, heather honey. With water, cream, magic marker, pears, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, oily, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, heather honey, lemon zest, apricots, white grapes, white pepper, cream. With water, white pepper, cream, magic marker. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, lemon zest, cream, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Creamy and slightly lactic, but with plenty of orchard fruits and honey. This is more minerally than the average Glenkinchie, and has some very prominent feinty notes. Very nice whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenkinchie Distillery Hand Fill 12yo Batch 003

Glenkinchie Distillery Hand Fill 12yo Batch 003

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Heather honey, pears, apricots, malted grains, orange peel, watermelons, hints of mace. With water, ink, malted grains, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, wet stones, apricots, pears, leather, vitamin C tablets, watermelons, mace, hints of nutmeg. With water, malted grains, fresh baked bread, orange peel, pears. 
Finish: Medium. Watermelons, white grapes, heather honey, apricots. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, with plenty of orchard fruit and spices. Water opens it up wonderfully, turning it malty and cereally. The fruit is still present, but in diminished quantities. Very nice whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glasgow 1770 Peated

Glasgow 1770 Peated

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber brown
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, soot, tobacco leaf, honey, raisins, peat, leather, charcoal ash. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, smoke, orange peel, tobacco leaf, peat, pencil lead, peanuts, charcoal ash. 
Finish: Long. Pencil lead, wet stones, peat, smoke, soot. 

Comments: 

It’s smoky alright, but there’s also plenty of feinty, minerally notes. Tobacco and raisins make an appearance, but the whole is wreathed in dirty smoke and soot. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dewars 8yo Japanese Smooth

Dewars 8yo Japanese Smooth

Bacardi
Blended malt
Bright yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, barley sugar, pickle brine, black tea, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Barley sugar, malted grains, pine nuts, black tea, almonds, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, pine nuts, barley sugar, hoppy beer. 

Comments: 

Mizunara cask finished blend, lots of malty and sweet notes, but also nuts, citrus and some tannins. It’s not as sweet as I’d expected, and the wood finishing has added some spices and tartness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dewars 8yo French Smooth

Dewars 8yo French Smooth

Bacardi
Blended malt
Yellow gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, cream, malted grains, vanilla, honey, raisins, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, barley sugar, apples, cream, caramel, hoppy beer, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Hoppy beer, malted grains, caramel, raisins. 

Comments: 

Calvados cask finished blend. Sweet and malty, the apples are evident, and it’s lived up to its billing. Slips down easily, an almost quaffable dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled

Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, lemon zest, pencil lead, magic marker, wet stones, yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Cream, yoghurt, magic marker, lemon zest, gooseberries, wet stones, malted grains, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Cinnamon, yoghurt, gooseberries, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Feinty and slightly spicy. The fruit notes in this whisky are tarter, with some lactic notes poking through. I’m less sold on this, I don’t think the distillate has been improved by the additional distillation.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glasgow 1770 The Original

Glasgow 1770 The Original

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pencil lead, wet stones, raisins, orange peel, white pepper, shiso leaf, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pencil lead, wet stones, photocopy paper, malted grains, raisins, damson jam, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, shiso leaf, fresh cut grass, wet stones, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Herbal and fresh, with some fruity notes. There’s quite a lot of mineral notes to this, which gives it body and makes it unusual. A very pleasant dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalmunach 6yo 2016/2023

Dalmunach 6yo 2016/2023

Watt Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dunnage, blue cheese, tyre rubber, peat, autumn leaves, lemon juice, petrol exhaust, hints of white wine. With water, leather, peat, petrol exhaust, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon juice, petrol exhaust, dunnage, malted grains, peat, autumn leaves, hints of creosote. With water, lemon juice, malted grains, petrol exhaust, tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. Petrol exhaust, creosote, lemon juice, tyre rubber. 

Comments: 

My first Dalmunach, the distillery built on the old Imperial site. It’s peated, first of all, something quite unexpected. Lots of citrus and something earthy and dirty, like autumn leaves. Interesting and promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dornoch 4yo 2019/2024 The Major’s Dram

Dornoch 4yo 2019/2024 The Major’s Dram

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber brown
52.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, pears, green tea, malted grains, lohan fruit, membrillo, hints of magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Vanilla, lohan fruit, green tea, cocoa nibs, butterscotch, photocopy paper, malted grains, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. Sandalwood, white pepper, pears, membrillo, green tea. 

Comments: 

Floral and fruity, lots of orchard fruits like quince and pear. It’s feinty on the tongue, and rather gentle. It’s so quaffable I forgot to add water. But that’s fine, the whisky is good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dumbarton 22yo 2000/2023

Dumbarton 22yo 2000/2023

Watt Whisky
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut cream, vanilla, toast, desiccated coconut, white grapes, cinnamon, hints of sultanas. With water, magic marker, ink, lemon juice, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slippery, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Green tea, vanilla, coconut cream, salt caramel, lemon juice, hints of sultanas. With water, magic marker, brown paper, desiccated coconut. 
Finish: Short. Lemon juice, oatcakes, sultanas, green tea. 

Comments: 

A delicate, floral grain whisky with some quite intense green tea notes. It’s distinctive and delicious. Water turns it coconutty, the green tea tannins disappear. Old grain is one of life’s pleasures.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bonnington PX Sherry Cask

Bonnington PX Sherry Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden, hints of red 
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Autumn leaves, roast beef, raisins, honey, salt caramel, cocoa nibs, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Red grapes, raisins, cocoa nibs, strawberry jam, blackcurrant cordial, smoke, peat, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, blackcurrant cordial, raisins, peat, smoke. 

Comments: 

Highly sherried, but the core notes of the distillate seem to be smoke, peat and sulphur. These show through quite easily, and I wonder if the whisky should have spent longer in the cask. Interesting dram nevertheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Holyrood Single Cask #58

Holyrood Single Cask #58

Official bottling 

Single malt - Lowlands
Bronze gold
62% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, butterscotch, roast chicken, dunnage, white pepper, hints of tyre rubber. With water, apple juice, salt caramel, roast chicken, peat. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Apple juice, white pepper, butterscotch, malted grains, vanilla, white pepper, autumn leaves, tyre rubber. With water, salt caramel, apple juice, vanilla, tyre rubber. 
Finish: Short. Tyre rubber, autumn leaves, malted grains, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Lots of apple and some meaty roast chicken notes, but that’s offset with a sulphurous edge. Some water smooths this out, and brings out notes of salt caramel. Impressive dram, given the youth of the distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blair Athol 12yo 2011/2023

Blair Athol 12yo 2011/2023

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single malt - Central Highlands
Pale green

48.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Gooseberries, wet stones, peaches, apricots, green tea, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Wet stones, peaches, apricots, apple juice, fresh cut grass, gooseberries, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, peaches, apricots, lemon juice, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Cask DL17761. Very juicy, fruity, slightly minerally malt. Lots of the orchard and stone fruits that this distillery is known for, and a little spice at the end. Delicious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Old Perth 12yo

Old Perth 12yo

Old Perth, Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers
Blended malt
Amber, hints of red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cloves, red grapes, cinnamon, cardamom, black tea, carrot cake. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cloves, black tea, chocolate, vanilla, carrot cake, cinnamon, raisins, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, raisins, cardamom, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

I like Old Perth, I think it’s one of the best quality blend brands on the market. This one is fruity and rich, absolutely a Christmas whisky. Which is why I’m having it in summer 🤦🏻‍♂️ .

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cheshire Special Release Fireside

The Cheshire Special Release Fireside

Official bottling
Single malt - Cheshire
Dark brown 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, menthol, tarragon, fresh cut grass, raisins, white pepper, hints of turpentine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool.  
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh cut grass, raisins, damson jam, white pepper, menthol, orange peel, hints of roast chicken. 
Finish: Long. Roast chicken, white pepper, raisins, menthol, hints of turpentine. 

Comments: 

Very ‘dirty’, with hydrocarbon notes. There’s mint and raisins and orange peel, but underneath that there’s something chemical and harsh. It’s not too harsh, the balance is reasonably good. An interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Circumstance Batch 2 3yo

Circumstance Batch 2 3yo

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Bristol 
Amber
51.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, cream, rye bread, fresh cut grass, brown paper. With water, raisins, cream, oatcakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Brown paper, milk chocolate, raisins, brown sugar, butterscotch, cream, hints of olive brine. With water, milk chocolate, cream, oatcakes. 
Finish: Long. Brown paper, rye bread, milk chocolate, hints of olive brine. 

Comments: 

Savoury sweet grain whisky, lots of cereal in this. Less sweet than most grains, with some interesting savoury notes such as olive brine. An especially long, intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Glencraig 33yo 1976/2010

Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold 
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper, smoke, hints of papayas. With water, pineapples, pencil lead, wet stones, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, airy. 

Tasting:  Bitter sour. Pineapples, gunpowder, pencil lead, wet stones, black tea, lemon zest, brown paper. With water, pencil lead, pineapples, cream, hints of gunpowder.

Finish: Long. Vanilla, malted grains, pineapples, orange peel, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Cask 6782. Very sulphurous, very citrusy dram, but curiously, it works. The magic of long aging, perhaps. There are also huge flinty, minerally notes that offset the peat beautifully. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

St Kilian Peated

St Kilian Peated

Official bottling 
Single malt - Bavaria
Golden 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, peat, driftwood smoke, wet stones, roast beef, leather, soot, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Peat, malted grains, wet stones, soot, leather, mint, lemon sweets, honey, driftwood smoke, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, soot, honey, lemon sweets, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Very sooty and peaty, but with saline citrus notes. This reminds me of a young Lagavulin, but with some creamy lactic flavours that combine well with the peat and smoke, albeit it’s not Jura-esque.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lambertus 5yo Tequila Cask Finish

Lambertus 5yo Tequila Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Liège
Yellow straw
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, wet stones, agave, smoke, fresh cut grass, tarragon, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Wet stones, talcum powder, cooked rice, lemon zest, tarragon, fresh cut grass, honey, raisins, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Cooked rice, malted grains, talcum powder, wet stones. 

Comments: 

A very feinty, flinty herbal dram. It’s got many liberally aspects, but also refreshing citrus and herbal notes. Very unusual, and unique in my experience.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fettercairn 10yo 2012/2022

Fettercairn 10yo 2012/2022

Provenance, Douglas Laing
Single malt - East Highlands
Pale cream
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, yoghurt, malted grains, dunnage, vanilla, peanuts, caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, turns watery, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, walnuts, yoghurt, malted grains, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, dunnage, walnuts, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask DL16916. Tart, lots of green apples and butterscotch, with a pleasing complexity. There’s plenty of bitter notes, especially on the finish, that make this dram interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Linkwood 2011

Linkwood 2011

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

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, cloves, black tea, red grapes, cream, marshmallows. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warm, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Milk chocolate, cloves, black tea, white pepper, cream, cinnamon, marshmallows, brown sugar. 
Finish: Long. Milk chocolate, black pepper, cinnamon, cream, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, perfectly sherried, very rich dram with notes of milk chocolate and cloves. It’s mouth watering, bottled at a good ABV as well. Very enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 53.241 (Caol Ila 6yo 2011/2017)

SMWS 53.241 (Caol Ila 6yo 2011/2017)

2017, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Very pale pink
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, malt vinegar, autumn leaves, smoke, sea salt, vanilla, coconut cream. With water, lemon zest, lemon sweets, sultanas, hints of soy sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peat, malted grains, malt vinegar, leather, smoke, lemon zest, vanilla, coconut cream, hints of sultanas. With water, sultanas, autumn leaves, smoke, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, diesel exhaust, lemon zest, peat, leather. 

Comments: 

Complex and chemical, lots of creamy sweetness abounds, with a citrusy bite. All this is wreathed in huge amounts of smoke and diesel exhaust. Very complicated whisky, unusual for such a young dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lagavulin 10yo Feis Ile 2024

Lagavulin 10yo Feis Ile 2024

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Pale yellow
56.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, lemon sweets, cream, apricot jam, autumn leaves, leather, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, lemon sweets, chillies, shortcrust pastry. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Soy sauce, leather, peat, apricot jam, driftwood smoke, honey, shortcrust pastry, black pepper. With water, chillies, lemon sweets, driftwood smoke, leather. 
Finish: Short. Driftwood smoke, peat, apricot jam, honey, hints of black pepper. 

Comments: 

A rather fruity Lagavulin, with a distinctive toasted fruit taste, like someone burned an apricot tart before serving it. Or maybe smoked it. A very enjoyable, savoury and surprisingly tart dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Oc5

Oc5

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale green gold
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, peanuts, cotton sheets, peat, leather, autumn leaves, pineapples, hints of vitamin C tablets. With water, magic marker, pineapples, peat, vitamin C tablets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Magic marker, cotton sheets, smoke, peat, creosote, peanuts, wet stones, fresh baked bread, white wine. With water, white wine, magic marker, lemon sweets, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Short. White wine, lemon sweets, peanuts, pineapples, creosote. 

Comments: 

Very sooty, chemical Octomore. It’s rather lightly, and has fragrant, almost sweet notes that are quite unexpected. Some cereal and herbal notes appear with water. Complicated, not an approachable dram, but very rewarding. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Highland Park 5yo

Highland Park 5yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, farmyard, autumn leaves, lemon zest, lemon sweets, icing sugar, hints of tyre rubber. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Icing sugar, leather, farmyard, tyre rubber, petrol exhaust, smoke, lemon sweets, dandelions, fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Long. Petrol exhaust, wet stones, fresh cut grass, icing sugar, peat. 

Comments: 

A very old official bottling. It’s smoky and dieselly, quite a dirty dram. Lots of flinty, grassy notes, especially on the finish. Very interesting and unusual.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Royal Brackla 12yo Sherry Cask Finish

Royal Brackla 12yo Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside 
Amber, hints of gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cocoa nibs, sour cream, cinnamon, black pepper, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, milk chocolate, black pepper, vanilla, cream, cocoa nibs, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Milk chocolate, vanilla, cream, cocoa nibs, black tea. 

Comments: 

I tried the old 12yo, the new one is at a higher ABV, at 46%. It’s sweeter and more chocolatey, as you’d expect a sherry cask finished malt to be. Lots of vanilla and cream notes too, almost as if there was a little grain whisky in it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Filey Bay Flagship

Filey Bay Flagship

Official bottling 
Single malt - Yorkshire
Yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, lemon zest, magic marker, pear drops, white pepper, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, cream, malted grains, magic marker, pear drops, Demerara sugar, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Magic marker, pear drops, malted grains, cinnamon, Demerara sugar. 

Comments: 

Light and refreshing, this is hot weather whisky. It’s got notes of lemon and estery pear drops, before fading to a brown sugar sweetness. It’s a fairly swiggable dram, and I admit I had more than my usual. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cotswolds Bourbon Cask

Cotswolds Bourbon Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Warwickshire
Golden, hints of brown
59.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, peaches, malted grains, cream, vanilla sponge, honey, hints of cinnamon. With water, malted grains, mint, honey, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, malted grains, peaches, cinnamon, sourdough bread, vanilla sponge, white pepper. With water, malted grains, peaches, honey, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, sourdough bread, malted grains, honey. 

Comments: 

Unexpectedly amazing. This whisky is redolent of bread and peaches and white pepper. It’s citrusy and rich, filling the mouth in a very satisfying way. I enjoyed this very much.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.