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. 

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, barley sugar, corn syrup, brown paper, vanilla, caramel, hints of coffee. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, evaporates, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Vanilla, caramel, pear drops, brown sugar, corn syrup, barley sugar, hints of evaporated milk. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, caramel, black pepper, barley sugar. 

Comments: 

Quite strong ABV wise (or at least it tastes that way). It’s quite sweet with plenty of cereal notes coming through, with creaminess and also a hint of savoury coffee notes. Good peppery finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bonnington Muscat Matured

Bonnington Muscat Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark copper
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Watermelons, raisins, white grapes, honeydew melons, applesauce, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pear drops, malted grains, white grapes, honey, honeydew melons, nutmeg, raisins. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, white grapes, grapefruit, white pepper, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Fruity with plenty of spice. The cask influence is strong on this one, but perhaps that’s a good thing for such a young whisky. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teaninich 13yo 2011/2024

Teaninich 13yo 2011/2024

Glaschu Spirits Co
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber copper
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, tobacco leaf, apricots, menthol, camphor, orange peel, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, sandalwood, camphor, raisins, nutmeg, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, nutmeg, malted grains, raisins. 

Comments: 

Plenty of stone fruit but also a lot of bitter herbal notes such as camphor. Nutmeg is prominent, especially in the finish as is a smoky oakiness. Quite tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kinahan’s Small Batch Irish Whiskey (bottled 2022)

Kinahan’s Small Batch Irish Whiskey (bottled 2022)

Kinahan’s 
Blend
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, peaches, apricots, cream, malted grains, vanilla, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, peaches, cream, sour cream, white pepper, vanilla, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Long. Lemons, vanilla, malted grains, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Lactic and tart, but also laden with lots of stone fruit and vanilla. The finish is long and citrusy. Plenty of sweet maltiness. Rather tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Foundry Clockface Three Grain Whiskey

The Foundry Clockface Three Grain Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - Kent
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, milk chocolate, molasses, vanilla, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, oak chips, black pepper, vanilla, icing sugar, molasses, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Molasses, vanilla, toffee, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A well constructed whisky, lots of peanut butter and chocolate despite the virgin oak cask. It’s also bitter, mostly burnt sugar and molasses. The finish is short but intense, as might be expected for such a young whiskey.

Verdict:

I like this.

Whistler PX I Love You

Whistler PX I Love You

Official bottling 
Single malt - Leinster
Amber red 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, leather, red grapes, milk chocolate, fresh baked bread, pumpernickel, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Strawberry jam, malted grains, pumpernickel, vanilla, brown sugar, leather, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown sugar, leather, malted grains, coffee. 

Comments: 

Very sweet whisky, it must have been an active cask. It tastes like strawberry jam on toast, with more intense bready notes with a leathery back note. Quite a good exhibition of wood influence.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release - First Fill Bourbon

West Midlands Inaugural Release - First Fill Bourbon

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire
Pale dusty gold
52.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, gooseberries, nail varnish, lemon zest, sour cream, hints of yoghurt, hints of rye bread. With water, nail varnish, gooseberries, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, rye bread, nail varnish, sour cream, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, hints of apricots. With water, nail varnish, black pepper, white grapes, hints of sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Nail varnish, fresh baked bread, black pepper, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Quite peppery with a big heap of cereal notes, alongside citrus and a bit of stone fruit. Quite stripped back, definitely tasting the distillate here. Water brings out more esters and pepperiness.

Verdict:

I like this.

West Midlands Inaugural Release - The Matriarch

West Midlands Inaugural Release - The Matriarch

Official bottling
Single malt - Staffordshire 
Dark gold
51.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, rye bread, malted grains, sour cream, nail varnish, magic marker, hints of lemon juice. With water, nail varnish, raisins, lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Raisins, camphor, lemon juice, nail varnish, black pepper, oat bran. With water, malted grains, nail varnish, lemon juice. 
Finish: Long. Nail varnish, magic marker, lemon zest, oat bran, hints of peaches. 

Comments: 

Tart, lemony and a bit lactic. It’s definitely an inaugural release, with cereal notes and some pepperiness as well. Water also brings out more estery flavours as well as more lemon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Copperworks Colour Cask (Colour Sherry Finish)

Copperworks Colour Cask (Colour Sherry Cask)

Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Mahogany red 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coffee, dark chocolate, dunnage, raisins, sea salt, malted grains, white grapes, cloves, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, white grapes, gooseberries, damson jam, dark chocolate, ink, dried apricots, cream. 
Finish: Long. Dried apricots, coffee, white grapes, dark chocolate, hints of dunnage. 

Comments: 

Beautiful colour, but the sherry notes are also well integrated with dark chocolate and dried apricots especially prominent  there’s an interesting hint of dunnage and dust, both on the nose and the finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Le Breuil Oloroso Finish

Le Breuil Oloroso Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Normandy 
Light amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, candied orange peel, raisins, damson jam, clotted cream, red grapes, hints of dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dark chocolate, malted grains, menthol, dried apples, candied orange peel, damson jam, raisins, cloves. 
Finish: Long. Menthol, camphor, fresh baked bread, raisins, dried apples. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and laden with notes of dried fruit. Lots of creamy notes too, as well as a nip of dark chocolate. It builds to a lovely long mentholated finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Busker Single Malt Small Batch No 1

The Busker Single Malt Small Batch No 1

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Amber brown 
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh baked bread, orange peel, white pepper, cinnamon, hints of grapefruit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, raspberry jam, fresh baked bread, malted grains, red grapes, raisins, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, raspberry jam, malted grains, cinnamon, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Orangey, lots of malted grains and raisins. Quite spicy too, with plenty of cinnamon and white pepper. The finish isn’t so long, but brings more of the jammy cooked fruit notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Grain

The Busker Single Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - Leinster
Golden
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, vanilla, desiccated coconut, orange peel, nutmeg, toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, caramel, black pepper, menthol, nutmeg, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Toffee, orange peel, vanilla, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite a simple, straightforward whisky, with toffee, caramel, and grain whisky note if desiccated coconut. Plenty of vanilla and brown paper as well, flavours I usually associate with bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bladnoch Talia

Bladnoch Talia

Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark yellow gold
45.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, magic marker, clay dust, malted grains, fresh cut grass, white pepper, glue. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Nectarines, lemon zest, honey, fresh cut grass, white pepper, nutmeg, pears, hints of apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, apricots, white pepper, honey, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Dusty and old, lots of stone fruit, honey, esters and white pepper. Beautiful sweet sour finish, with plenty of barley maltiness and more stone fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Spey 16yo 2008/2024

Glen Spey 16y 2008/2024

The Single Cask
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, malted grains, orange peel, white pepper, hints of smoke. With water, malted grains, pear, nectarines. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. White pepper, smoke, germolene, tobacco leaf, nectarines, white wine, orange peel. With water, coffee, peat, smoke, germolene. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, smoke, nectarines, white wine. 

Comments: 

Cask 801879. Ex-Islay cask, peppery but also orangey, full of stone fruit? And quite sweet. Water brings out more bitterness, with peat, smoke and coffee. It’s a nice long semi-sweet finish too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Ord 11yo

Glen Ord 11yo

Soho Selection, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - North Highlands
Golden
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, apricots, lemon zest, sultanas, hoppy beer, honey, malted grains. With water, malted grains, apricots, peaches, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Wet stones, coffee, lemon zest, sultanas, malted grains, chicory, dark chocolate. With water, peaches, apricots, hints of sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, chicory, malted grains, lemon zest, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Minerally with heaps of stone fruit. There’s a bitter note here is that I interpret as coffee and chicory, and water brings out even more stone fruit and much more sweetness. Good minerally finish too.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale 

Official bottling
Single grain - Saskatchewan
Amber red 
48.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, red grapes, blackberries, vanilla, desiccated coconut, sandalwood, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brown paper, desiccated coconut, raisins, pear drops, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, rye bread, black pepper, raisins. 

Comments: 

High rye flavour. The grain is a rye-wheat hybrid, and brings the usual black pepper notes. There’s also some creamy cereal, with plenty of grain whisky coconut flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Irish Oak Batch 2

Glendalough Pot Still Virgin Oak Batch 2

Official bottling
Single pot still - Leinster
Dark gold

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, yuzu, cream, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Photocopy paper, malted grains, lemon zest, sea salt, yoghurt, white wine, hints of yuzu. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite tart and lactic, which is to me a characteristic of pot still whisky. Lost of fruity citrus notes along the edges which emphasise the sour flavours. The finish is brief, intense and a little minerally.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Cheshire Single Malt

The Cheshire Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Cheshire
Amber

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Hoppy beer, malted grains, cream, shredded wheat, white pepper, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Hoppy beer, shredded wheat, raisins, white pepper, orange peel, hints of gentian, hints of nectarines. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, malted grains, orange peel, nectarines. 

Comments: 

Beery and loaded with stone fruit. There’s plenty of malty goodness with a pinch of white pepper. Still rather bitter with mountainous herbs. This might take some water well, although I didn’t try.

Verdict:

I like this.