Debt Collector Moonshine Cask Aged 2yo

Debt Collector Moonshine Cask Aged 2yo

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut cream, honey, malted grains, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, malted grains, white pepper, golden syrup, raisins, hints of saffron. 
Finish: Medium. Golden syrup, vanilla, coconut cream, white pepper, hints of oak chips. 

Comments: 

More Ribena-like than its unaged cousin, quite coconutty too. Lots of sweeter flavours from the wood, even though it’s been in the cask a relatively short time. Starting to taste woody.

Verdict:

I like this.

Debt Collector Moonshine Unaged

Debt Collector Moonshine Unaged

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Colourless
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemons, new plastic, sea salt, fresh baked bread, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, white pepper, sour cream, lemons, new plastic, hints of saffron. 
Finish: Medium. Lemons, sour cream, white pepper, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite malty, but plenty of citrusy notes, including a slightly prickly plasticky one. A little herbal too, there’s a touch of saffron on the tongue. A bit unbalanced.

Verdict:

I like this.

Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Bartels Whisky
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber brown
25% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, oak chips, malted grains, ice cream soda, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, static, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, coconut cream, oak chips, burnt sugar, pear drops, magic marker, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, vanilla, pear drops, ice cream soda, hints of oak chips. 

Comments: 

Quite woody, but in this case the low strength works in its favour. It’s not whisky of course, just spirit drink, but it’s taken on quite a lot of the wood flavours. Very interesting indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

Filey Bay Moscatel Sherry Cask

Filey Bay Moscatel Sherry Cask

Official bottling 
Single malt - Yorkshire
Copper
47.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, black tea, malted grains, aluminium foil, nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Marmalade, malted grains, nutmeg, black tea, orange peel, foam shrimp, lemon zest, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, sea salt, foam shrimp, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite saline but plenty of sweet jammy flavours, in particular marmalade. Something slightly flinty and bitter too, especially on the tongue. Really good distillate that matches the cask well.

Verdict:

I like this.

Curraghmore Triple Cask Matured (bottled 2025)

Curraghmore Triple Cask Matured (bottled 2025)

Curraghmore Estate
Single pot still - Leinster
Amber copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, cream, white pepper, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, foam shrimp, malted grains, white pepper, meringues, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, raisins, meringues, white pepper, gentian. 

Comments: 

Sweet, but also quite spicy and a little lactic. It’s the little pricks of white pepper as opposed to the richer pops of black pepper. It’s sweet and malty and also builds to a nice, slightly bitter finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery Krauss Straight Whiskey

Distillery Krauss Straight Whiskey

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

Nose: Prunes, plums, sandalwood, raisins, oak chips, fresh baked bread, caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fresh baked bread, raisins, sandalwood, caramel, brown paper, cream, hints of mushrooms. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, caramel, sandalwood, oak chips, raisins. 

Comments: 

Lots of dried fruit - prunes and plums - but also a nice cereally bready spine. It tastes a little like eau de vie, and less like whisky, but an interesting dram nevertheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Balmenach 26yo 1999/2025

Balmenach 26yo 1999/2025

Mystery Malt Series 5, Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green gold 
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, coffee, lemon zest, lime juice, burnt sugar, yoghurt, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, barley sugar, lime juice, grapefruit, honey, yoghurt, hints of bananas, hints of prunes. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sherbet, lemon zest, lime juice, honey, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Citrusy yet bitter, with a crisp, caramelly edge. It’s almost burnt caramel, the sort you scrape off the bottom of the pan. Quite a complex dram with a hint of lactic.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ardbeg Dolce

Ardbeg Dolce

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Golden bronze
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, dried apricots, pears, smoke, peat, golden syrup, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty bitter. Peat, driftwood smoke, pears, lemon zest, golden syrup, nutmeg, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Golden syrup, oakum, sea salt, peat, smoke. 

Comments: 

Salty, bitter but not as sweet as regular Ardbeg. It’s missing the chocolatey note that I find, instead it’s got golden syrup and nutmeg, rather like smoky bread and butter pudding. Absolutely delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Kurayoshi Pure Malt

Kurayoshi Pure Malt

Matsui Shuzou 
Blend
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mushrooms, yoghurt, malted grains, brown sugar, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Dark chocolate, leather, malted grains, mushrooms, yoghurt, lemon zest, cinnamon, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, raisins, dark chocolate, leather. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic and tart with earthy mushrooms and bitter dark chocolate. A very simple, straightforward dram, as befits an entry level dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Company Embarque

London Distillery Company Embarque

Official bottling
Single malt - London 
Amber brown 
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberry jam, malted grains, fresh baked bread, chocolate, hints of rye bread, hints of black pepper. With water, roast chicken, black pepper, hints of new plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, rye bread, raspberry jam, golden syrup, black pepper, hints of new plastic. With water, malted grains, rye bread, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, dark chocolate, malted grains, rye bread, hints of new plastic. 

Comments: 

Quite jammy and sweet. The distillery character seems to be a peppery, spicy distillate with feinty mid palate notes. This expression has a long fragrant, slightly bitter finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Prakaan Tribura Series Double Cask

Prakaan Tribura Series Double Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Kamphaeng Phet
Light amber 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, surgical spirit, malted grains, dried apricots, black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, raisins, honey, coffee, malted grains, Demerara sugar, lychees, hints of dried apricots. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, Demerara sugar, malted grains, coffee, hints of black pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite a sweet dram, lots of dried fruit and brown sugar, but with a spirity edge that young, tropically aged whiskies sometimes get. It builds to a nice long spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Unicorn

Ki One Unicorn

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

Nose: Mushrooms, smoke, autumn leaves, lemon zest, pear drops, cinnamon, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Smoke, autumn leaves, hay, peat, pear drops, lemon sherbet, vitamin C tablets, orange peel, photocopy paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Lemon sherbet, photocopy paper, hay, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Earthy and a little grassy, with plenty of smoke and peat. There’s also some citrus sweetness, and a little chalkiness. Plenty of other feinty notes too, especially on the tongue. There is no template for Korean peated whisky, but this could become one.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Official bottling
Single blend - Tōhoku
Pale gold

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, menthol, raisins, mint, malted grains, barley sugar, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Menthol, smoke, germolene, peat, honey, barley sugar, lemon zest, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, menthol, honey, smoke, malted grains. 

Comments: 

I’d guess only the malt part of this is peated. There’s some quite sophisticated notes here - apricots, menthol, and plenty of malty sweetness too. A very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Langatun 6yo 2016/2022 Madeira Cask

Langatun 6yo 2016/2022 Madeira Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Bern
Amber
49.12% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, black tea, fresh baked bread, coffee, orange peel, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, sea salt, raisins, honey, golden syrup, milk chocolate, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, milk chocolate, golden syrup, white pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Lots of dried fruit from the wine cask, with plenty of cereal notes too. A little pepper on the tongue. The finish is glorious - plenty of chocolate and golden syrup, with a fragrant, slightly bitter coffee note.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Prakaan Tribura Series Peated Malt

Prakaan Tribura Series Peated Malt

Official bottling

Single malt - Kamphaeng Phet 
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Soot, creosote, smoke, peat, lemon zest, roast beef, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Sea salt, roast beef, peat, smoke, golden syrup, malted grains, germolene, hints of rose water, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Smoke, malted grains, creosote, peat, hints of lemon zest. 

Comments: 

A decently peated malt, made with what I think is Scottish peat. Lots of medicinal notes, and it’s rather saline. But there’s plenty of sweetness underlying it - golden syrup, some rose and even some lemon.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

Official bottling
Single rye - London
Amber brown
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, dried apricots, dried pears, dried blueberries, raisins, black pepper, cloves, hints of farmyard. With water, strawberry jam, dried apricots, magic marker, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, volatile, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, dried pears, dried apricots, black pepper, brown paper, golden syrup, cloves, hints of orange juice. With water, pear drops, magic marker, black pepper, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Dried pears, brown paper, golden syrup, orange juice, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

London rye whisky! The obligatory black pepper note is present but it’s overlaid with heaps of other things. Ribena, golden syrup, sweet dried fruit and even cloves. Water brings out estery chemical notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ki One Eagle

Ki One Eagle

Official bottling
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, grapefruit, sandalwood, white grapes, clay dust, hints of parchment paper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Orange juice, orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, apricot jam, gentian, fresh cut grass, clay dust. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, gentian, ginseng, fresh cut grass, clay dust, apricot jam. 

Comments: 

Slightly dusty and mineral, but with heaps of fruity flavours. Lots of something chalky and fizzy, like vitamin C tablets. It then builds to a bitter fragrant finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Komagatake Single Malt

Mars Komagatake Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - Chūbu
Dark gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, peaches, sea salt, vanilla, cinnamon, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, sandalwood, nori, peaches, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, malted grains, peaches, apple juice. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity with a herbal incense-like character. There’s some savoury notes on the tongue and it ends in a slight hint of something antiseptic, almost earthy. A very decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Roberto Grande

Roberto Grande

Official bottling
Single blend - Carniola
Pale gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Fresh cut grass, aluminium foil, lemon zest, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, aluminium foil, white pepper, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

There’s a fair bit of malt in this blend still, and it’s reminiscent of the single malt - herbal, grassy, something very like gin but with whisky sweetness. I prefer the single malt, but this isn’t half bad.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.