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.

Akashi 5yo Red Wine Cask

Akashi 5yo Red Wine Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Kansai
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red wine, wet stones, raisins, pears, apples, red grapes, dried blueberries. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, cloves, oak chips, damson jam, camphor, apples, hints of dried blueberries. 
Finish: Medium. Camphor, apples, pears, oak chips, cloves. 

Comments: 

Active cask that masks most of the notes from the distillate. Jammy red fruit flavours, with a bitter herbal note of camphor. Was on the fence as to whether to add water but in the end didn’t.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Aberfeldy 20yo 1999 Handfill Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark amber red 
60.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, camphor, roast beef, raisins, black tea, damson jam, cloves. With water, roast beef, cloves, molasses. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Coffee, camphor, roast beef, damson jam, clay dust, cloves, red grapes. With water, damson jam, dried apricots, raisins, clay dust, oak chips. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, clay dust, roast beef, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Meaty, winey, lots of jammy notes and warming spices. Water brings out a little dustiness and more dried fruit notes, but also makes the wood more prominent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017 175th Anniversary

Blair Athol 29yo 1988/2017 175th Anniversary 

Authentic Collection, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber, hints of yellow
51.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, lemon zest, clay dust, popping candy, malted grains, orange peel, hints of cloves. With water, candle wax, orange peel, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, raisins, sandalwood, candle wax, lemon zest, orange peel, cinnamon, popping candy. With water, raisins, malted grains, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, longans, orange peel, candle wax. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, but also with a heavy waxy note that gets more prominent with water. Plenty of little vanilla estery accents to the flavours, and a nice fruity, slightly tannic finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

1792 Full Proof Nickolls and Perks Exclusive

1792 Full Proof Nickolls and Perks Exclusive

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

Nose: Vanilla, toffee, magic marker, pear drops, dark chocolate, apricots. With water, magic marker, malted grains, brown paper, hints of hay. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Toffee, cola nuts, magic marker, cream, dark chocolate, vanilla. With water, malted grains, brown paper, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Cream, magic marker, pear drops, toffee, hints of hay. 

Comments: 

Quite fruity and strong. The alcohol masks a lot of flavours, water brings out maltiness, a dusty papery note and dark chocolate. The finish is short, intense and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Killowen 3yo Barantuil Pinot Noir Firkin

Official bottling 
Single pot still - Ulster
Amber gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, malted grains, icing sugar, lemon zest, yoghurt, hints of raisins. With water, white pepper, icing sugar, persimmons. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Raisins, damson jam, yoghurt, lemon sherbet, icing sugar, cola nuts. With water, icing sugar, damson jam, persimmons. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, lemon sherbet, damson jam, raisins. 

Comments: 

Fruity, spicy, lots of deeply sweet notes. But there’s also a lactic note that’s quite prominent. Water brings out a powdery sugariness and persimmons. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Bardstown Origin Series Straight Wheated Bourbon 6yo

Bardstown Origin Series Straight Wheated Bourbon 6yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, white pepper, vanilla, toffee, cough mixture, blackcurrant cordial. With water, magic marker, cough mixture, cornflakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, white pepper, cola nuts, raspberry jam, cornflakes, cream. With water, cream, cough mixture, magic marker. 
Finish: Medium. Toffee, vanilla, cola nuts, blackcurrant cordial. 

Comments: 

Flinty, peppery, with big blackcurrant notes. Tastes a little like cough mixture. There’s plenty of corn in this, if I’m any judge. Water brings out even more blackcurrant.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Wyvis 6yo 2018/2024

Glen Wyvis 6yo 2018/2024

Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, red grapes, honey, lohan fruit, cloves, black tea, hints of molasses. With water, menthol, raisins, eucalyptus. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, evaporates, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, lohan fruit, cloves, menthol, damson jam, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. With water, menthol, damson jam, eucalyptus. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, menthol, raisins, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Cask 59. A well sherried whisky, plenty of the sweet red fruit notes you’d expect, but also plenty of complexity like black tea, menthol and cloves. Surprisingly layered for such a young dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Dalmunach 9yo 2016/2025

Dalmunach 9yo 2016/2025

James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, white wine, lemon zest, white pepper, yoghurt, vanilla, hints of sour cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. White wine, sour cream, cashews, yoghurt, malted grains, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, vanilla, white pepper, white wine. 

Comments: 

Casks 364523, 364524, 364525. Stripped back whisky, a bit of a lactic note but also plenty of fragrant citrusy and winey notes too. There’s some nuttiness and pepperiness especially on the finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Brenne Special Edition (Pineau de Charentes Finish)

Brenne Special Edition (Pineau de Charentes Finish)

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Dark yellow gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Artificial grape flavour, sultanas, cream, artificial melon flavour, honeydew melons, bubble gum. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Artificial melon flavour, mint, sultanas, white wine, icing sugar, white pepper, bubble gum. 
Finish: Medium. Bubble gum, icing sugar, sultanas, raspberries, artificial grape flavour. 

Comments: 

Floral and fragrant, definitely an improvement on previous bottlings. Tastes rather like melon Ramune, the Japanese soft drink, especially at this low ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aberargie Inaugural Release

Aberargie Inaugural Release

Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
48.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, malted grains, honeycomb, orange blossom, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, mouth coating, slightly volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honeycomb, orange blossom, malted grains, marshmallows, foam shrimp, strawberry sweets, hints of cream. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, malted grains, marshmallows, strawberry sweets. 

Comments: 

Sweet, malty and robust, definitely not a 3 year old. They’ve done the right thing by waiting to release something older. Very promising and flavourful.

Verdict:

I like this.

Old Bakery Small Batch for Gerry’s of Soho

Old Bakery Small Batch for Gerry’s of Soho

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Dark gold
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, white grapes, white chocolate, vanilla, magic marker, nail varnish. With water, vanilla, cooked rice, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, white grapes, magic marker, white pepper, fresh cut grass, hints of dried apricots. With water, vanilla, cooked rice, pear drops, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, white pepper, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Quite a light whisky, lots of estery notes, which must also come from the rum cask finish. It’s quite cereally under all that sweetness. Water brings out more esters and more cereal, although it becomes less sweet.

Verdict:

I like this.

Macaloney’s Peat Project Portuguese Red Wine STR Barrique

Macaloney’s Peat Project Portuguese Red Wine Barrique

Official bottling
Single malt - British Columbia
Amber copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, germolene, nutmeg, tobacco leaf, orange peel, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, germolene, orange peel, peaches, malted grains, honey, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Germolene, peat, autumn leaves, honey, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Interesting dram, made with sugar kelp. It is quite peaty - medicinal peat - and has a nice underlying sweetness that must come from the Portuguese red wine cask. Decent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.