Prakaan Tribura Select Cask Ex Bourbon

Prakaan Tribura Select Cask Ex Bourbon

Official bottling
Single malt - Kamphaeng Phet
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, bananas, orange peel, honey, vanilla, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, surgical spirit, orange peel, pear drops, lemon zest, honey, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, bananas, malted grains, surgical spirit, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Thai single malt, aged in the tropics but still rather light and refreshing. Not as heavy as I’d thought, and perhaps the cask was a refill. Still, a decent attempt at a single malt.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Tiger

Ki One Tiger

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

Nose: Hay, cream, orange peel, pear drops, ink, honey, strawberry sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Aluminium foil, honey, raisins, strawberry jam, fresh cut grass, orange peel, cream, hints of vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Long. Cream, aluminium foil, fresh cut grass, strawberry sweets, ink.  

Comments: 

Very citrusy, but also plenty of creaminess and a slight metallic tang. More complex than the age and cask would suggest. Rather pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Edradour 12yo Oloroso Batch #7

Edradour 12yo Oloroso Batch #7

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber red 
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, cream, vanilla, raisins, strawberry jam, honey, hints of black pepper. With water, milk chocolate, honey, vanilla, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, loosens, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Milk chocolate, cream, vanilla, raisins, black tea, brown paper, hints of toast, hints of charcoal ash. With water, milk chocolate, honey, vanilla, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Cream, raisins, black tea, toast. 

Comments: 

Rich and luscious, lots of chocolate and vanilla notes. There’s also plenty of dried fruit and a hint of sootiness. A very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Two Brewers Peated Release 38

Two Brewers Peated Release 38

Official bottling
Single malt - Yukon
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, honey, malted grains, peat, lemon zest, white pepper, hints of icing sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White pepper, driftwood smoke, lemon zest, apples, autumn leaves, hints of photocopy paper. 
Finish: Long. Photocopy paper, driftwood smoke, peat, apples, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

A rather gentle peated whisky, lots of earthiness and apples, and a little salty smoke. But it’s not very in your face, and quite pleasant for all that. An excellent effort from this Canadian distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Two Brewers Classic Release 35

Two Brewers Classic Release 35

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

Nose: Lemon zest, malted grains, vanilla, fresh baked bread, photocopy paper, hints of icing sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, malted grains, nutmeg, toast, pear drops, photocopy paper, hints of cotton sheets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, cotton sheets, photocopy paper, fresh baked bread, hints of sea salt. 

Comments: 

Quite feinty, with cereal notes and a whisper of something sweet (really just a suggestion). This whisky is indeed quite tart, and on the tongue is mostly feints. Interesting and of reasonable quality.

Verdict:

I like this.

Carpathian Single Malt Marsala Cask (bottled 2023)

Carpathian Single Malt Marsala Cask (bottled 2023)

Official bottling
Single malt - Sud-Muntenia
Golden bronze
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, malted grains, bananas, peaches, cream, hints of strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, coffee, white chocolate, peaches, golden syrup, vanilla, hints of strawberries. 
Finish: Short. Cream, peaches, golden syrup, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite light and refreshing, but also quite rich with those wine sweet notes lots of stone fruit, honey and golden syrup. A proper peaches and cream whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish

Virginia Distillery Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia 
Dark gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, malted grains, black pepper, foam shrimp, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Nectarines, malted grains, foam shrimp, vanilla, dried apricots, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, dried apricots, leather, malted grains, foam shrimp. 

Comments: 

Delicate and rounded, lots of stone fruit notes and barley sweetness. There’s a hint of leather and pick and mix sweets, and a fragrant, slightly bitter finish. Rather good whiskey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon

Official bottling

Single bourbon - Wyoming
Amber
44% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, vanilla, cola nuts, milk chocolate, ink, hints of cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cola nuts, blackcurrant cordial, milk chocolate, ink, cough mixture, sarsaparilla, vanilla, cloves. 
Finish: Long. Blackcurrant cordial, mint, ink, milk chocolate, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Fairly straightforward bourbon, lots of Ribena notes with herbal sarsaparilla. Also cola nuts and something dark and metallic. The finish is long with chocolate and vanilla.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenglassaugh 13yo 2011/2024

Glenglassaugh 13yo 2011/2024

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber red
52.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, white pepper, cloves, raspberries, hints of smoke, hints of wet stones. With water, orange peel, raspberries, wet stones, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Orange peel, cashew nuts, white pepper, smoke, cloves, malted grains, raspberries, hints of sea salt. With water, cashew nuts, raisins, orange peel, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cream, wet stones, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 11. Sweetly sherried, lots of nutty fruity notes, with some fragrant smoke. There’s some flintiness especially on the finish, adding to what is already an amazingly complex whisky. Utterly delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Suntory Hibiki 21yo

Suntory Hibiki 21yo

Suntory
Blend
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla, raisins, malted grains, cherry blossom, roast chicken, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, raisins, malted grains, leather, apples, cinnamon, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Leather, peat, smoke, apples, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Complex and luxurious, lots of cherry notes with sweet dried fruit, but also some smoky edges and on the finish, a distinct note of peat. Very layered and complicated, needs introspection.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Holladay 6yo 2018/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #1

Holladay 6yo 2018/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #1

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Missouri 
Amber red
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla sponge, coconut cream, raisins, cinnamon, milk chocolate, hints of almonds. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, slippery, hot. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Black tea, vanilla sponge, raisins, milk chocolate, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of almonds. With water, black tea, vanilla, milk chocolate, brown paper. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, vanilla sponge, brown paper, raisins, hints of aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Lot 18E17 cask 6715. Soft and gentle bourbon, lots of cakey notes - vanilla, chocolate, almonds - and plenty of raisins too. Water brings out a bitterness, mostly tea, but also more chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Holladay 7yo 2017/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #2

Holladay 7yo 2017/2025 Soft Red Wheat UK Exclusive #2

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Missouri
Amber red
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, peanuts, cough syrup, popcorn, milk chocolate, oak chips, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, peanuts, brown paper, fresh cut grass, milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, evaporates, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Oak chips, cream, cough syrup, popcorn, beetroot, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial. With water, cream, cough syrup, vanilla, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Beetroot, cream, cough syrup, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Lot 17F03 Cask 3503. Very milky, lots of chocolate, blackcurrant and cough syrup notes. There’s a vegetal note of beet root on the finish too. A rather good bourbon, even gentle at this cask strength.

Verdict:

I like this.

North British 43yo 1982/2025

North British 43yo 1982/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark copper
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, golden syrup, nutmeg, vanilla, cream, brown paper, cola nuts. With water, cream, cola nuts, cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Raisins, cream, cough mixture, brown paper, cola nuts, milk chocolate, vanilla. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown paper, raisins, cream. 

Comments: 

Cask 25537. Lots of sweet sticky notes, creamy and milky (but not lactic!). Water brings out a note of coconut cream, and accentuates the chocolate. Lovely old grain whisky

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ruadh Maor 14yo 2011/2026

Ruadh Maor 14yo 2011/2026

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden yellow
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, smoke, peat, orange peel, gooseberries, sandalwood, pine, hints of sawdust. With water, honey, sandalwood, germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, expands. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Smoke, orange peel, raisins, gooseberries, soot, sandalwood, sawdust, coffee, dark chocolate. With water, raisins, honey, soot, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, peat, soot, orange peel, hints of pine. 

Comments: 

Chunky, sweet smoke, lots of herbal and incense notes, but with plenty of dried fruit and fragrant coffee. Water expands the range of flavours, bringing in notes of honey  and dark chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn

Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn

Official bottling

Single grain - Lima
Dark copper
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Farmyard, roast chicken, leather, raisins, damson jam, black pepper, cooked rice, hints of oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Black pepper, damson jam, raisins, coked rice, oak chips, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of roast chicken. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, black pepper, black tea, raisins, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Not as sweet as I’d expected, for corn whisky. Lots of estery and spicy notes though, and there’s some meaty, even farminess on the palate. It builds to a long, slightly bitter, fragrant finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Don Michael Black Whiskey Rye

Don Michael Black Whiskey Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Lima 
Amber copper
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, raisins, parchment paper, peaches, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Rye bread, raisins, damson jam, oak chips, parchment paper, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, blackcurrant cordial, black pepper, rye bread, peaches. 

Comments: 

A very gentle rye, mostly papery and bready. There’s also getntlenjammybflacours with some saltiness. Not much of that heady black pepper note that American eyes have. A decent first Peruvian whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Speyburn 15yo 2009

Speyburn 15yo 2009

Highland Laird, Bartels Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, butter, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, vanilla, dried pears, hints of white chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pencil lead, dried pears, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, wet stones, pears, hints of nectarines. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, pencil lead, wet stones, shortcrust pastry, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 0700077. Very buttery and vanilla laden, with hints of white chocolate, on the nose. On the tongue it chafes, showing some minerality and more pears. Very enjoyable, if slightly thin.

Verdict:

I like this.

Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026

Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold 
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apples, pears, shortcrust pastry, dried apricots, icing sugar, foam shrimp, hints of starfruit, hints of cinnamon. With water, lemon zest, shortcrust pastry, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried apples, malted grains, lemon zest, dried apricots, shortcrust pastry, icing sugar, hints of cream. With water, vanilla, malted grains, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, dried apricots, dried apples. 

Comments: 

Cask 300371, 300372. Very fruity whisky, mainly stone fruit, apples and pears. Lots of estery notes. With water it turns buttery and pastry-like. Very good whisky indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Floki Single Malt

Floki Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Capital Region
Pale gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acacia honey, white grapes, yoghurt, cream, lemon zest, foam shrimp, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, volatile, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. White grapes, acacia honey, haw flakes, foam shrimp, lychees, pear, grapefruit, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, honey, haw flakes, lychees, peat. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and light, with plenty of estery notes, but also an earthy bitter undertone. It’s not necessarily peaty, instead it’s herbal and citrusy bitterness. Definitely more grapefruit than smoke.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release

Ardara Single Malt 2025 Release

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

Nose: Peat, smoke, raisins, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, farmyard, hints of charcoal ash. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, thickens, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Peanuts, peat, charcoal ash, vanilla, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, gentian, smoke, hints of tarry rope. 
Finish: Long. Vanilla, dark chocolate, raisins, charcoal ash, peat. 

Comments: 

Peated Irish whisky. This is rather thick and heavy, upending the Irish whisky stereotype. The bitterness is herbal and vegetal, with quite a big lick of sulphur.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnahoe 5yo Feis Ile 2024

Ardnahoe 5yo Feis Ile 2024

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Bright gold
59.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Driftwood smoke, peat, moss, autumn leaves, tobacco leaf, malted grains, hints of white pepper. With water, orange juice, gooseberries, peat, hints of pencil erasers. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange juice, pears, peat, smoke, moss, autumn leaves, malted grains, germolene, hints of white pepper. With water, orange juice, limes, hints of white pepper, peat. 
Finish: Long. Peat, autumn leaves, white pepper, pears, driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Lots of savoury saline smoke, laden with earthy flavours such as fallen leaves and moss. There’s also pears and some sweet citrus, it’s very fragrant. Ardnahoe is really quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cardrona Growing Wings Oloroso Sherry

Cardrona Growing Wings Oloroso Sherry

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Pale amber 
61.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, clotted cream, honey, prunes, vanilla, black tea, damson jam, hints of oak chips. With water, raisins, black tea, orange peel, oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Damson jam, clotted cream, vanilla, caramel, toffee, black tea, hints of prunes. With water, raisins, damson jam, prunes. 
Finish: Short. Damson jam, toffee, black tea, clotted cream, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 101. The sherry cask has imparted some quite delicious notes, but there’s also a big undertone of wood. It’s rather powerful and matches the sweet sherry notes in intensity.

Verdict:

I like this.

Feddie 4yo

Feddie 4yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Vestlandet
Pale yellow

42.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, nectarines, white pepper, toffee, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, nectarines, fresh baked bread, leather, malted grains, nutmeg, vanilla, hints of diesel exhaust. 
Finish: Long. Marzipan, lemon zest, nectarines, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Light fragrant and flavourful distillate. Quite impressive give the age, the flavour notes are well layered and distinct. Plenty of complexity too. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Oloroso Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Oloroso Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Dark amber
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, fresh baked bread, cocoa nibs, maraschino cherries, black pepper, hints of rye bread. With water, vanilla sponge, raisins, hints of dried blueberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Maraschino cherries, cocoa nibs, cocoa butter, damson jam, magic marker, prunes, cloves. With water, cocoa butter, maraschino cherries, magic marker. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, damson jam, maraschino cherries, cocoa nibs, hints of rye bread. 

Comments: 

The pungent peppery nature of the distillate is tempered by the sherry cask, bringing out notes of maraschino cherries and prunes. Water brings out more dried fruit and some more estery flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Knockando 13yo 1974/1987

Knockando 13yo 1974/1987

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

Nose: Pears, raisins, orange peel, lohan fruit, nutmeg, cloves, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, leather, lohan fruit, cloves, vanilla sponge, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, lohan fruit, vanilla sponge, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, lots of raisiny dried fruit flavours with plenty of vanilla. No water, it’s perfectly drinkable as is. The finish is surprisingly peppery and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Chichibu Distillery II (Ichiro’s Malt)

Chichibu Distillery II (Ichiro’s Malt)

Official bottling
Single malt - Kantō
Amber gold 
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, pears, fresh cut grass, white grapes, orange peel, barley sugar, nutmeg, mace. With water, pears, magic marker, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pears, orange peel, leather, barley sugar, malted grains, magic marker, ink, mace. With water, mace, pears, magic marker, leather. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, orange peel, malted grains, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Lots of lovely balanced flavours, mainly spices, pears and a big leather note that is quite characteristic of Chichibu in my opinion. Water brings out some estery flavours with more of that leather. This is actually from their new production facility, but they’ve maintained their character well. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tsunuki Yakushima Aging 5yo 2016/2021 (bottled for LMDW)

Tsunuki Yakushima Aging 5yo 2016/2021 (bottled for LMDW)

Official bottling
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber brown
61% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, raisins, sandalwood, pears, dried apricots, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, raisins, winter melons, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, evaporates, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Oak chips, sandalwood, malted grains, dried apricots, barley sugar, raisins, pears, hints of winter melons. With water, malted grains, raisins, barley sugar. 
Finish: Long. Dried apricots, leather, raisins, barley sugar hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Cask 2069. Floral and herbal, very intensely flavoured with a hot, volatile mouthfeel. No doubt it’s due to the high ANv. Water brings out cereally sweetness with more raisins too. Quite interesting and somewhat typical of the Yakushima aging style.

Verdict:

I like this.

Longmorn 30yo

Longmorn 30yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, golden syrup, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, clotted cream, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Clotted cream, raisins, cloves, nutmeg, golden syrup, butter, barley sugar, wet stones, hints of molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, raisins, hints of molasses. 

Comments: 

A gentle, sweet, syrupy dram. The bitterness is that of molasses and slightly burnt caramel, but the predominant notes are creamy golden syrup, and buttery barley sugar. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, raisins, orange peel, dried pineapples, black pepper, honey, sandalwood, hints of lohan fruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried pineapples, dried apples, cloves, honey, black pepper, hints of lohan fruit, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, honey, dried pineapples, raisins, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Minerally, with a bitter herbal edge, very prominent on the tongue. But under that there is a classic dried pineapple note, which I’ve found in a number of Caperdonich. There’s a bit of farmyardy tang at the end.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Grant 1948

Glen Grant 1948

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, lohan fruit, leather, sandalwood, roast chicken, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, sandalwood, white pepper, black pepper, cumin, roast chicken, lohan fruit, smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, leather, black pepper, orange peel, lohan fruit. 

Comments: 

Bitter sweet, with the bitter note being quite herbal, almost savoury. Not the most complex whisky, but very well layered with distinct flavours. It builds to a long, very smoky finish. It was a privilege to try this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Grant 5yo 1974 (OB for Italy)

Glen Grant 5yo 1974 (OB for Italy)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, lemon zest, sandalwood, sea salt, malted grains, white grapes, hints of yeast extract. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Lemon zest, yeast extract, roast chicken, sea salt, starfruit, pears, white pepper, hints of gunpowder. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, sea salt, white pepper, malted grains, hints of roast chicken. 

Comments: 

Gentle and light, but with a citrusy, savoury edge. There’s a roast chicken note which starts to take over on the tongue, and et the very end, something flinty, minerally and sulphurous. Superb old whisky

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tomatin 13yo 2010/2023

Tomatin 13yo 2010/2023

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Bronze gold 
50.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, elderflower, wet stones, honey, sea salt, fresh baked bread, hints of coffee. With water, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, leather, lemon sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, honey, elderflower, nectarines, coffee, leather, hints of lemon sweets. With water, fresh baked bread, lemon sweets, elderflower, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, grapefruit, nectarines, leather. 

Comments: 

Floral and rich, but also minerally. Lots of cereal notes underneath, and water brings out more floral notes with a robust bitterness. Rather good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Green River Kentucky Straight Rye DSP-KY-10

Green River Kentucky Straight Rye DSP-KY-10

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peppermint, brown paper, popcorn, toffee, blackcurrant cordial, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peppermint, toffee, vanilla, cream, brown paper, popcorn, fresh baked bread, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, popcorn, vanilla, cream, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Quite minty with lots of popcorn notes. The latter is not unusual for rye, but the former is. There’s plenty of cereal and bread too, which keeps it interesting.

Verdict:

I like this.

Raasay 4yo 2021/2025 Marsala Cask

Raasay 4yo 2021/2025 Marsala Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Islands
Dark gold, hints of amber

50.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, cinnamon, honey, gooseberries, white grapes, dried apricots, toffee, hints of smoke. With water, menthol, dried apricots, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cinnamon, apples, smoke, dried apricots, leather, sourdough bread, toffee, vanilla, peat, smoke. With water, smoke, peat, leather, white grapes. 
Finish: Long. Peat, smoke, charcoal ash, apples, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Sometimes sweet wine finishes clash with peat but for this whisky they are quite well integrated. The sweet notes are prominent on the nose and especially near, and once water is added the smoke comes to the fore.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release Caribbean Rum Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release Caribbean Rum Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Pale green
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, raisins, orange peel, malted grains, molasses. With water, damson jam, plums, raisins, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, evaporates, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cooked rice, plums, damson jam, molasses, fresh baked bread, orange peel, white pepper. With water, new plastic, molasses, plums, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, plums, damson jam, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Lots of sweet fruit but the slightly plasticky note that characterises rum casks is ever present. Water brings out a lactic tang, which offsets the bitter molasses and fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Beverbach Tri-Cask

Beverbach Tri-Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lower Saxony
Pale yellow gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, malted grains, dried cranberries, vanilla, coffee, hints of farmyard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, dried cranberries, lemon juice, dark chocolate, nutmeg, vanilla, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, lemon juice, raisins, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Clearly one of the casks is sherried, and it’s quite well constructed with lots of typical chocolate, nuts and dried fruit notes. There’s also some citrusy tartness hiding underneath.

Verdict:

I like this.

Jack Daniel Triple Mash

Jack Daniel Triple Mash

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, milk chocolate, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, cough mixture, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Milk chocolate, honey, fresh baked bread, cream, cough mixture, hints of rye bread. 
Finish: Short. Cream, milk chocolate, honey, brown sugar. 

Comments: 

Sweet and chocolatey, a cut above the regular JD. There’s a bit of rye in this, oddly, and it makes for a slightly jarring note on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this.

Thompson Brothers Lowries Reserve

Thompson Brothers Lowries Reserve

Thompson Bros
Blend
Copper gold
45.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, molasses, vanilla, tablet, petrol exhaust, hints of milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Molasses, tablet, orange peel, raisins, icing sugar, leather, hints of milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Icing sugar, leather, orange peel, raisins, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Sweet blend, with hints of bitterness that never really quite come to pass. There are some whispers of more industrial whisky but they’re drowned in orange peel and icing sugar.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bruichladdich 10yo Old Skool

Bruichladdich 10yo Old Skool

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold 

50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream, malted grains, barley sugar, white pepper, hints of pencil erasers. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, yoghurt, white pepper, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of rolled oats. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, yoghurt, cream, white pepper, rolled oats. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, although doesn’t have the butyric note that Bruichladdich sometimes has. Quite lemony too, plenty of salty cereal. Not too peated, in fact it’s quite hard to discern.

Verdict:

I like this.

Filey Bay Porter Cask #2

Filey Bay Porter Cask #2

Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire 
Amber gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, wet stones, fresh baked bread, vanilla sponge, orange peel. With water, white pepper, strawberry sweets, marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, loosens slightly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Marmalade, fresh baked bread, strawberry sweets, wet stones, pencil lead, hints of ginger. With water, marmalade, strawberry sweets, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Ginger, marmalade, orange peel, raisins, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Laden with marmalade and strawberry notes. It’s got a deep sweetness that must come from the beer, not a lot of woody notes. Also quite minerally and flinty, which seems to be a characteristic of this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Goalong Single Malt

Goalong Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Hunan
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, white pepper, lime zest, raisins, dried pears. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Bananas, limes, vanilla, white pepper, icing sugar, hints of dried pineapples. 
Finish: Short. Limes, lime zest, vanilla, cream, icing sugar. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, plenty of banana and vanilla. It’s a light approachable whisky with lots of rich notes packed into a life mouth feel. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Chuan Handfill (bottled 2004)

The Chuan Handfill (bottled 2024)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Sichuan
Amber 
60.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lohan fruit, raisins, marzipan, orange peel, lemon sweets, coffee, nectarines, hints of strawberry sweets. With water, orange peel, menthol, hints of marzipan. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, volatile, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, strawberry sweets, nectarines, camphor, white pepper, raisins, papayas, hints of coffee. With water, raisins, nectarines, strawberry sweets. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, camphor, white pepper, lohan fruit, hints of nectarines. 

Comments: 

A rather good Chinese whisky, plenty of sweet and nutty notes with herbal bitterness. Water brings out more stone fruit sweetness with menthol on the nose. Surprisingly good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Inverleven 31yo 1977/2008

Inverleven 31yo 1977/2008

Cask Strength, Signatory
Single malt - Lowlands
Light amber
47.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, pencil lead, wet stones, raisins, white grapes, honey, hints of plums. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Camphor, wet stones, raisins, honey, lohan fruit, pencil lead, orange peel, pears. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, pears, pencil lead, lohan fruit, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 3606. Leathery and minerally with bitter herbal accents. Very Chinese - lots of oriental fruit and the requisite orange and pear. Plenty of honey as well, it’s quite sweet. A very good dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

North Port 15yo 1974/1989 Very Rare

North Port 15yo 1974/1989 Very Rare

Sestante
Single malt - East Highlands
Dark yellow
66.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, peaches, sandalwood, magic marker, fresh baked bread, lemon sweets, peppermint, hints of malted grains. With water, olive oil, lemon sweets, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, sandalwood, olive oil, clay dust, dunnage, malted grains, lemon sweets, hints of papayas. With water, olive oil, lemon sweets, peppermint.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, papayas, sandalwood, olive oil, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Superb whisky, perfectly drinkable at this high strength. Plenty of stone fruit and ily dunnage, with lemon sweets and peppermint. Water brings out a bitter olive oil note and more lemon sweets.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Bourbon Quarter Cask

West Midlands Inaugural Release - Bourbon Quarter Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire
Amber gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rye bread, new plastic, black pepper, malted grains, ink, raisins, hints of cinnamon. With water, new plastic, cinnamon, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Rye bread, raisins, hoppy beer, malted grains, black pepper, ink, butter, hints of barley sugar. With water, fresh baked bread, black pepper, barley sugar.
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, ink, raisins, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic and chemical, which seems to be a character of this distillery. The cask imparts sweetness and some nice dried fruit, even raisiny notes. Water brings out more pepperiness and sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Puni Gold

Puni Gold

Official bottling
Single malt - Alto-Adige
Pale yellow
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, vanilla, pencil lead, malted grains, nutmeg, peaches, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, white pepper, vanilla, barley sugar, pencil lead, cream. 
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, malted grains, pencil lead, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Quite minerally and delicate, lots of gentle spices and barley sweetness. It’s a young, light whisky, but a well made one. The flinty pencil lead notes bring body and interest.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Scapegrace Anthem

Scapegrace Anthem

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber, hints of copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, malted grains, white pepper, Leon zest, dark chocolate, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green apples, pears, peat, soot, lemon zest, dark chocolate, malted grains, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Smoke, dark chocolate, soot, pears. 

Comments: 

Smoky and fruity, plenty of green fruit and a bitter note that keeps evolving. Moving from dark chocolate, to bitter lemon zest, to smoke and soot.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lochlea Overtone

Lochlea Overtone

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, honey, malted grains, white chocolate, nectarines, fresh cut grass, grapefruit. With water, peaches, nectarines, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, malted grains, fresh cut grass, grapefruit, jalapeños, nectarines, honey, lemon zest. With water, hoppy beer, peaches, nectarines, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Jalapeños, grapefruit, black pepper, malted grains, hoppy beer. 

Comments: 

Beery and rich, with lots of stone fruit and spicy, grassy jalapeños. I like the combination of flavours, very Mexican. Water brings out some peppery spiciness and even more strobe fruit.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Courage and Conviction Bourbon Cask

Courage and Conviction Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Virginia
Yellow gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, pears, orange juice, malted grains, nutmeg, cinnamon, lemon zest, hints of cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cucumbers, pears, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, white pepper, hints of nutmeg. 

Finish: Short. Malted grains, white pepper, barley sugar, honey, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Delicate and fragrant whisky, lots of herbal, fruity notes. Plenty of barley sugar as well, which befits a good stripped back bourbon cask. This is the sort of whisky I like.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.