Avon Distilleries 9yo 2016/2025

Avon Distilleries 9yo 2016/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Blend
Amber gold
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, honeydew melons, white pepper, cloves, honey, leather, hints of cinnamon. With water, pear drops, surgical spirit, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Nectarines, honeydew melons, honey, leather, pear drops, cloves, farmyard, dunnage. With water, cloves, leather, dunnage. 
Finish: Medium. Dunnage, cloves, nectarines, honeydew melons. 

Comments: 

Blended whisky, apparently, but I suspect it’s teaspooned something. Clynelish? Not waxy enough. Anyway it’s rather fruity with a slightly dirty, farmyardy edge. Water brings out some more of that slightly mouldy funk.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Old Vatted Talisker (1910s blend)

Old Vatted Talisker (1910s blend)

GF Heublein & Co
Blend
Golden brown 
c35% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tarry rope, peat, menthol, cough mixture, lychees, wood smoke, autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, charcoal ash, honey, menthol, lychees, watermelon rind, cardamom, autumn leaves. 
Finish: Short. Menthol, cardamom, white pepper, charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Smoky, tarry, but surprisingly delicate and floral. There notes of lychees and watermelon rind, that are still obvious beneath the layer of ash and smoke. It’s now quite a low ABV, in the mid to low 30s, but it still packs quite a punch. Remarkable whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

End of the World Whisky Blend

End of the World Whisky Blend

Master of Malt
Blend
Amber
44.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, raisins, malted grains, white grapes, honey, prunes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, cooked rice, white grapes, peaches, orange peel, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, raisins, malted grains, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A fruity, fun blend, lots of cereal notes alongside too. It’s a bit one dimensional but that’s what blends are meant to do. Highly enjoyable and a very decent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Timorous Beastie

Timorous Beastie

Douglas Laing
Blend
Golden
46.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, cream, honey, heather, lemon zest, nectarines, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green apples, cream, lemon zest, honey, molasses, cinder toffee, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Gentian, smoke, cinder toffee, honey. 

Comments: 

Quite a complex blend, with a distinctive smoky appley note. It’s builds to a complex finish that is both smoky and sweet. A very elegant whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Heart Cut Barley

Heart Cut Barley

The Heart Cut
Blended malt
Amber, hints of red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, new plastic, strawberry jam, cream, vanilla, raspberries, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Strawberry jam, raspberries, cinnamon, orange peel, orange blossom, vanilla, black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, orange blossom, raspberries, honey, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

An English blend, and like anything from the Heart Cut, very flavour forward and intense. Lots of jammy notes, but also floral orange blossom and black pepper. Quite delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Scallywag Winter Edition

Scallywag Winter Edition

Douglas Laing
Blended malt
Golden brown
52.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apple juice, cloves, raisins, golden syrup, fresh baked bread, black pepper, nutmeg. With water, vanilla sponge, butter, raisins, apple juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apple juice, damson jam, raisins, honey, golden syrup, nutmeg, cloves. With water, raisins, prunes, damson jam, black pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, fresh baked bread, nutmeg, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A very appley blend, from Douglas Laing. Not sure what’s in here but it tastes quite a lot like mulled apple cider. A perfect winter dram, as it says on the bottle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Gauldrons Sherry Cask Batch 002

Douglas Laing

Blend
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

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

Comments: 

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

Verdict:

I like this.

Bardstown Bourbon Company x West Virginia Great Barrel Company Blended Rye Whiskey

Bardstown Bourbon Company x West Virginia Great Barrel Company Blended Rye Whiskey

Collaborative Series
Blend
Amber red
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, toffee, orange peel, bananas, cream, hints of cinnamon. With water, orange peel, toffee, vanilla, cream. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Oak chips, cinnamon, orange peel, raisins, mint, butterscotch, toffee, blackcurrant cordial. With water, cream, vanilla, Demerara sugar, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, vanilla, toffee, cloves, black pepper, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Woody and rich, lots of warm spices - cinnamon predominates. But there’s also mint and black pepper. It’s well flavoured with great big sweet notes. Great whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Compass Box Peat Monster

Compass Box Peat Monster

Compass Box
Blend
Silvery gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, orange peel, pear drops, peanuts, germolene, autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, honey, leather, peat, germolene, smoke, autumn leaves, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Peanuts, autumn leaves, moss, germolene, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Smoky and intense, lots of earthy, incense notes. There’s some fruity citrus notes on the top palate. A robust, muscular blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Milroys Original Blended Scotch Whisky

Milroys Original Blended Scotch Whisky

Milroys of Soho
Blend
Amber gold
40% ABV

Dram

Nose: Malted grains, orange peel, lime zest, cinnamon, cinder toffee, honey, hints of peat. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vitamin C tablets, honey, orange peel, lime zest, cooked rice, cinnamon, hints of cinder toffee. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, lime zest, cooked rice, malted grains, cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Sweet, fruity and luscious on the nose, slightly more tart on the tongue. It’s meant to replicate the original Milroy’s blend, but I found it surprising that whisky made in the 1970s and 1980s tastes so fresh.

Verdict:

I like this.

Carnock Glen Blended Whisky

Carnock Glen Blended Whisky

Carradale Blending Co
Blended malt
Amber gold
43% ABV

Dram

Nose: Cucumbers, gooseberries, dark chocolate, roast chicken, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slightly watery around the edges. 

Tasting:  Sweet salty. Strawberry jam, gooseberries, dark chocolate, black pepper, cloves, hay, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Long. Butter, dark chocolate, black pepper, cloves. 

Comments: 

Fruity and vegetal, with more than a lick of smoke. A long, rich, buttery and sweet finish rounds the dram off. Rather good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Antiquary De Luxe (bottled 1950s / 1960s)

The Antiquary De Luxe (bottled 1950s / 1960s)

The Antiquary, J&W Hardie
Blend
Amber
43.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cookie dough, vanilla, hay, milk chocolate, leather, honey. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, loosens, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Cookie dough, lohan fruit, camphor, vanilla, hay, leather, sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, lohan fruit, vanilla, hay. 

Comments: 

A very interesting dram. Whisky from those days tastes almost dirty, but this is very pleasantly delicate and sweet. But there’s a bitter herbal edge to the sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cape Wrath Special Blended Whisky

Cape Wrath Special Blended Whisky

Cape Wrath Hotel
Blend
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast beef, raisins, malted grains, black pepper, toffee, Demerara sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, burnt sugar, bananas, raisins, cinnamon, kiwifruit, parchment. 
Finish: Long. Cinnamon, raisins, bananas, black tea. 

Comments: 

Rich, meaty blend, lots of sweet flavours, and a slightly surprising, bourbony banana note. It’s old, the Cape Wrath Hotel is long gone. A really lovely old blend.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

VAT 69 (1970s bottling)

VAT 69 (1970s bottling)

Diageo
Blended malt
Pale gold 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, toffee, sausages, baked beans, candle wax, hints of lemon juice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Candle wax, toffee, smoke, baked beans, fresh baked bread, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Short. Toffee, fresh baked bread, candle wax, smoke, honey. 

Comments: 

Bitter but fragrant, lots of complexity, including some unique sausages and baked beans notes! It turns sulphurous at the back of the tongue, and waxy on the finish. Can’t beat old blends.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

JJ Corry Irish Whiskey

JJ Corry Irish Whiskey

#11, The Heart Cut
Blended malt
Dark gold 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, apricots, vanilla, raisins, copper pipes, aluminium foil, black tea. With water, strawberry jam, cream, shortcrust pastry. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Aluminium foil, copper pipes, chocolate, black tea, raisins, apricot jam. With water, strawberry jam, shortcrust pastry, cream, brown paper. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, sandalwood, apricot jam, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Four casks blended together, one of which is a pajarette cask (a first for me). It’s not a sherry bomb though, it’s delicate and complex, with plenty of feinty notes that prickle the nose. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

Ichiro’s Malt
Blended malt
Amber
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, raisins, milk powder, nutmeg, malted grains, vanilla, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, loosens slightly. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Aluminium foil, milk powder, nutmeg, malted grains, chocolate, brown paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. Cocoa nibs, cinnamon, raisins, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious blend, lots of chocolate and raisin notes. There’s a feinty edge, metallic, like chewing on aluminium foil, that’s present on the nose and the tongue. A very tasty blend.

Verdict:

I like this.