Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Douglas Laing

Blend
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, raspberry jam, orange peel, molasses, leather, peat, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raspberry jam, orange peel, molasses, leather, peat, malted grains, rubber bands, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, malted grains, molasses, raspberry jam, hints of petrol exhaust. 

Comments: 

Fruity and sweet, lots of jammy notes. But there’s a little sulphur, maybe something rubbery and some peppery spice. It’s a bit of Campbeltown in the blend, if I’m any judge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glengoyne White Oak

Glengoyne White Oak

Official bottling
Single malt - South Highlands
Pale gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, black tea, molasses, malted grains, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, apricot jam, vanilla, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, raisins, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, lots of chocolate covered raisins, like all other Glengoynes. It’s delicate and rather delicious, and very winters.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.  

Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Glen Scotia 12yo Tawny Port Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown 
Amber
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberries, damson jam, pears, malted grains, orange peel, pecans, honey. With water, honey, pears, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pear drops, malted grains, lohan fruit, orange peel, winter melons, hints of peat. With water, pears, lemon zest, winter melons, hints of pecans. 
Finish: Long. Lohan fruit, winter melons, peat, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Sweet and slightly sooty, with a distinct peaty note that is buried under a lot of fruity notes. Water brings out even more fruits and an additional sweet nuttiness that brings to mind pecans.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold 
47.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, vanilla, sourdough bread, yoghurt, lemon zest, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vanilla, sourdough bread, peaches, malted grains, molasses, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, molasses, Demerara sugar, peaches, hints of sourdough bread. 

Comments: 

Fruity and very bready, lots of slightly tart notes that are also reminiscent of yoghurt. There’s some caramelly, sugary sweetness in the finish but it’s almost the absence of tartness rather than a proper sweet note.

Verdict:

I like this.

Barton 1792 Sazerac Barrel Select for Milroy’s

Barton 1792 Sazerac Barrel Select for Milroy’s 

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber gold
62.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Desiccated coconut, oak chips, vanilla, maple syrup, vanilla, white pepper. With water, white pepper, acetone, oak chips, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Eucalyptus, oak chips, vanilla, desiccated coconut, orange peel, honey, oak chips, white pepper. With water, white pepper, honey, acetone, maple syrup. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, oak chips, cookie dough, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite fragrant, lots of nail varnish and pear drops notes. There’s also some coconut, which reminds me of grain rather than bourbon. Water brings out even more acetone.

Verdict:

I like this.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling
Single rye - Virginia
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, black pepper, orange peel, custard, brown paper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, black pepper, orange peel, brown paper, fresh baked bread, hints of gentian. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of gentian. 

Comments: 

Rather bitter for a rye, lots of fragrant notes and some peppery spiciness. It’s also quite bready, which is a little odd, but that pepper note still comes through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill Invicta

Callington Mill Invicta

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber, hints of pink
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, rhubarb and custard sweets, black tea, hints of vanilla sponge. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, vanilla sponge, orange peel, strawberry jam, marmalade, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, hints of shortcrust pastry. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, fresh baked bread, strawberry jam, marmalade. 

Comments: 

Pure port finish. Jammy, but with hints of orange and marmalade this time, with a bready, pastry note on the tongue and on the finish. Again, much better at the higher ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill El Sol

Callington Mill El Sol

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raspberry jam, strawberry jam, vanilla sponge, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, red grapes, milk chocolate, strawberry jam, coffee, cocoa nibs, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, raspberry jam, coffee. 

Comments: 

Aged in a combination of sherry casks, Fino, Amontillado, PX and Oloroso. Chocolatey, lots of bitter cocoa too, but plenty of sweet fruity jam. The extra ABV is helpful, indeed essential.

Verdict:

I like this.

Callington Mill Enigma

Callington Mill Enigma

Official bottling
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, damson jam, honey, malted grains, fresh baked bread, black tea, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, damson jam, honey, hints of custard. 
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, black pepper, orange peel, damson jam, honey. 

Comments: 

Aged in port and sherry casks. Quite sweet as you’d expect, but also endowed with a peppery bitterness. It’s decent but rather low strength, which takes away some of the complexity.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tamdhu 14yo 2008/2022

Tamdhu 14yo 2008/2022

Cut Your Wolf Loose, Woolf Sung
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
60.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, damson jam, orange peel, cloves, milk chocolate, strawberry jam, malted grains. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, damson jam, black pepper, honey, milk chocolate, brown paper, strawberry jam. With water, coffee, milk chocolate, brown paper, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, honey, oats, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Very sweet, sherried dram, lots of strawberry jam and damson jam. Water brings out a chocolate note, with coffee and nore sweet jammy stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Speyburn 15yo 2008/2024

Speyburn 15yo 2008/2024

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Straw
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, vanilla, orange peel, white grapes, edelweiss, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pears, yoghurt, white pepper, white grapes, cream, strawberry jam, edelweiss, hints of orange blossom. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cream, pears, orange blossom. 

Comments: 

Very fruity whisky, lots of pears and grapes. Also a mount floral note, like white flowers or edelweiss. No need for water, this just slipped down.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

New Riff Single Barrel B16-3518

New Riff Single Barrel B16-3518

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
52.15% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, leather, vanilla, photocopy paper, dried apples, hints of dark chocolate. With water, black pepper, vanilla, coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, cherries, honey, cough syrup, cooked rice, dried apples, dark chocolate. With water, sea salt, rye bread, coffee. 
Finish: Short. Dark chocolate, cherries, honey, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A rather sweet rye, but with that black pepper spiciness. Water brings out more of the rye cereal flavour, and a coffee bitterness. Other than that, lots of dried apple notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Forester Straight Bourbon

Old Forester Straight Bourbon

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Light amber 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, honey, molasses, bananas, vanilla, oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Molasses, oak chips, bananas, honey, vanilla, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses. 

Comments: 

A straightforward bourbon, lots of vanilla and banana notes. On the tongue, it’s a little more bitter than usual perhaps, and that bitterness continues onto the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westland Colere 3rd Edition

Westland Colere 3rd Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Dark green gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Preserved lemons, heather, hay, fresh cut grass, malted grains, honeydew melons, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Preserved lemons, hay, fresh cut grass, honey, malted grains, peaches, hints of honeydew melons. 
Finish: Short. Hay, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, peaches. 

Comments: 

Grassy with lots of citrus and honey. A mild, slightly savoury distillate, and it’s stripped back with only a little wood influence. Very interesting indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arlett Single Malt Tourbe

Arlett Single Malt Tourbe

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Pale gold
43% ABV

Dram

Nose: Mangoes, smoke, leather, lemon zest, photocopy paper, autumn leaves, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Germolene, autumn leaves, peaches, mangoes, orange peel, nutmeg, cloves, gauze bandages, hints of charcoal ash. 
Finish: Medium. Gauze bandages, germolene, autumn leaves, mangoes, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Medicinal peat, with feinty, slightly chemical flavours. There’s also leather, and earthiness, but also tropical fruit and spice. A very interesting whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Arlett Finition Barbados Rhum Cask

Arlett Finition Barbados Rhum Cask

Official bottling

Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Pale orange gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mangoes, photocopy paper, peaches, white pepper, nectarines, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Mangoes, peaches, nectarines, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of pineapples. 
Finish: Short. Mangoes, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

This whisky is well made, with the funky rum and tropical fruit flavours very clearly defined. Lots of peaches and nectarines as well. One of the best rum casks I’ve had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018 Single Cask Handfill

Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
54.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, cherries, roast chicken, malts grains, menthol, hints of eucalyptus. With water, damson jam, cherries, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, menthol, eucalyptus, roast chicken, raisins, orange peel, fresh baked bread, damson jam. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, damson jam. 
Finish: Medium. Leather, autumn leaves, roast chicken, raisins. 

Comments: 

A rich, herbal Aberfeldy, lots of leather and orange peel. It’s sherried, of course, so lots of raisins and jam too, but there’s a nice meaty savouriness especially on the finish. Lovely.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish

Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber orange
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, fresh baked bread, cloves, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, cherries, damson jam, hints of violets, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, pruneaux, raisins, orange peel, cloves. 

Comments: 

Fragrant and floral, lots of sweet winey notes, it’s almost like an armagnac. No need for water, it’s utterly delicious as it is. It builds to a long bready finish, and only then does it remind me of whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Girvan 19yo 2002/2022

Girvan 19yo 2002/2022

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

Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, vanilla, oak chips, lemon zest, hints of smoke, hints of gooseberries. With water, oak chips, molasses, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, corn syrup, white pepper, oak chips, malted grains, popcorn, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, lemon zest, popcorn. 
Finish: Medium. Photocopy paper, sandalwood, popcorn, toffee, hints of desiccated coconut. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 16487. Floral and woody, with plenty of popcorn, and perhaps a touch of smoke. Water brings out more vanilla, more wood and even more popcorn. Decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

The Story Of Bourbon

The Story Of Bourbon

The Story Of
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, caramel, oak chips, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Orange peel, vanilla, honey, chocolate, oak chips, hints of bananas. 
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, black tea, vanilla, caramel, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

A lower proof version of an earlier bottle. It’s still rather orangey but maybe more chocolate, and the wood is more prominent. Still rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenallachie 12yo Sauternes Wine Cask Finish

Glenallachie 12yo Sauternes Wine Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark orange gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, yoghurt, bananas, white wine, white grapes, toffee, hints of orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Toffee, black tea, nutmeg, orange peel, yoghurt, burnt sugar, hints of bananas. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, burnt sugar, aluminium foil, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Sweet and creamy, lots of grape notes. It’s slightly lactic on the tongue, the Sauternes cask doesn’t hide that. Plenty of toffee and burnt sugar too. Decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025

Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber brown
55.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Winter melons, lemon zest, raisins, green tea, leather, lemon zest, pine needles, hints of germolene. With water, apricot jam, pine needles, lemon zest, germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, raisins, fresh cut grass, green tea, apricot jam, germolene, peat, autumn leaves. With water, lemon zest, pine needles, autumn leaves, germolene. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, green tea, fresh cut grass, germolene. 

Comments: 

Herbal and autumnal, lots of forest flavours! There is citrus and apricot also, and it’s all wreathed with gentle peat. A very good dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.