Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

Official bottling
Single pot still - Kent
Golden

45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, cinnamon, wet stones, clay dust. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Magic marker, pear drops, green apples, lemon zest, wet stones, clay dust, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, pear drops, lemon zest, hints of wet stones. 

Comments: 

Quite an unusual pot still whisky. That bristliness is still there by its overlaid with tart notes of green apples and lemon zest, and something earthy and flinty - clay dust and wet stones. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

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

Nose: Cough syrup, corn syrup, cola nuts, brown paper, oak chips, honey, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, honey, corn syrup, cola nuts, leather, cherries, hints of sawdust. 
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, cherries, cough syrup, honey, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet and luscious, as a whisky with a high corn content would be expected to do. Some light spiciness from the rye but it’s not as prominent as one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

Official bottling 

Single malt - Chūbu
Amber red
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, rancio, camphor, caramel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, raisins, honey, cherries, leather, burnt sugar, sandalwood, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cherries, honey, leather, hints of soot. 

Comments: 

Highly complex and sweet, loads of warming spices and dried fruit. A little thin on the mouthfeel but that just makes it easier to drink. Probably the youngest “old-style” sherried whisky that I’ve had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Braeval 16yo 2010

Braeval 16yo 2010

Little Brown Dog Spirits
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, peaches, honey, cloves, caramel, hints of carrot cake. With water, honey, peaches, malted grains. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, orange peel, honey, peaches, malted grains, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. With water, honey, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, cinnamon, peaches, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Malty and sweet Braeval, with plenty of peach and nectarine notes. Quite a spicy whisky, and water brings out more orange and cinnamon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Westland 9yo

Westland 9yo

The Whisky Trail, Elixir Distillers
Single bourbon - Washington
Amber
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast pork, honey, magic marker, dried apricots, marmalade, hints of surgical spirit. With water, sandalwood, leather, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, astringent, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, marmalade, surgical spirit, leather, honey, cloves, sandalwood. With water, sandalwood, lemon zest, surgical spirit, marmalade. 
Finish: Short. Sandalwood, lemon zest, cloves, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Rather herbal and floral for bourbon. Plenty of jammy notes too (not raisins or blackcurrant). Quite unusual, in that it’s still spirity after 9 years. Water brings out some more citrus.

Verdict:

I like this.

Lindores Abbey 5yo 2021/2026

Lindores Abbey 5yo 2021/2026

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red 
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Prunes, strawberries, raspberries, raisins, dunnage, leather, red grapes, hints of cloves. With water, malted grains, raisins, strawberries, hints of dunnage. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, raspberries, strawberries, leather, photocopy paper, white pepper, cloves. With water, raisins, strawberries, malted grains, cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, red grapes, leather, raspberries. 

Comments: 

Sherry cask of course, rather sweet and malty despite all that the raisin and dried fruit characteristics are prominent, with some feinty notes too. With water, it turns spicy and sweet again.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akashi 5yo Bourbon Cask 1356

Akashi 5yo Bourbon Cask 1356

Official bottling
Single malt - Kansai
Amber orange
56% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, lemon zest, malted grains, green tea, gooseberries, hints of white pepper. With water, golden syrup, magic marker, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, gooseberries, white grapes, fresh baked bread, hints of white pepper. With water, malted grains, golden syrup, green tea. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, fresh baked bread, lemon zest, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 1356. Rich, slightly tannic and very cereally. Water brings out even more cereal, alongside some floral notes and slightly caramelised sweetness.

Verdict:

I like this.

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, cream, dark chocolate, hints of oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, leather, cream, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Cream, prunes, raisins, dark chocolate, hints of photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Slightly lower strength, but still quite delightful. Again, very classic Macallan, lots of leather and dark chocolate and raisins to make me enjoy whisky from this distillery again.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt-a-Bhainne 17yo 2008/2025

Allt-a-Bhainne 17yo 2008/2025

Vintage Sherry Reserve, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Amber copper red
62.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, clay dust, black tea, malted grains, black pepper, orange peel. With water, raisins, cola nuts, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, raisins, orange peel, malted grains. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, cola nuts. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask 80900249. Sweet and laden with heaps of dried fruit, and a tangy cola taste. It’s also a little dusty, something that is reminiscent of old style sherried whiskies. With water brings out a tinge of black pepper.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask

London Distillery Co New Forms Ex Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber 
60.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, clay dust, pears, white pepper, aluminium foil, raspberry jam. With water, cherries, raspberry jam, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White pepper, peppermint, pears, malted grains, sea salt, raspberry jam. With water, peppermint, malted grains, black tea. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, peppermint, raspberry jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 11190. Fragrant, quite raisiny with other dried fruit flavours despite the bourbon cask. Water brings out a mintiness, with some tannins and more malty sweetness. Again, a pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask

London Distillery Co New Forms Moscatel Sherry Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber brown
61.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, foam shrimp, sandalwood, clay dust, magic marker, raspberry jam, hints of tamarind. With water, strawberries, plums, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Leather, plums, vanilla, honey, malted grains, magic marker, raspberry jam. With water, malted grains, plums, strawberries, honey. 
Finish: Long. Magic marker, plums, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 9008. Very sweet and luscious, the cask influence overwhelmed the distillate. There’s some maltiness perhaps but it’s hard to tell if the whisky tastes of much else. Pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bonnington 3yo 2021/2025

Bonnington 3yo 2021/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, surgical spirit, green tea, lemon zest, hints of sea salt. With water, leather, lemon zest, green tea, hints of sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green tea, smoke, peat, sandalwood, soot, surgical spirit, leather, hints of vitamin C tablets. With water, smoke, peat, green tea, hints of vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Smoke. Peat, smoke, sandalwood, green tea, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Quite sooty and spirity, but underneath that thick layer of peaty industrial mess, there’s something floral and citrusy. It was a little too spirity for me to really like it, but decent dram nonetheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

St Kilian Judas Priest British Steel

St Kilian Judas Priest British Steel

Official bottling
Single malt - Bavaria
Golden
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, magic marker, leather, white pepper, dunnage, hints of farmyard. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, malted grains, surgical spirit, fresh baked bread, elderflower, thyme, dunnage, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, surgical spirit, thyme, white pepper, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Quite floral and sweet but also with a funky, fermented slightly metallic note. It’s also quite estery and spirity. As with other drams from this distillery, there’s the bones of something potentially great there, but for its lack of balance.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kingsbarns Coaltown

Kingsbarns Coaltown

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, peat, soot, limes, lemons, hints of malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly.
Tasting:  Bitter. Peat, soot, limes, honey, lemons, farmyard, pear drops, malted grains, sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Peat, soot, lemons, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Quite sooty, but under all that smoke and ash there’s plenty of citrus and something perfumy, maybe sandalwood. Quite fragrant but it’s all buried under that thicken industrial coat.

Verdict:

I like this.

High Coast 9yo 2014/2025

High Coast 9yo 2014/2025

Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - Ångermanland
Amber copper
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, honey, figs, fresh cut grass. With water, honey, leather, hints of figs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black pepper, figs, sandalwood, honey, blackcurrant cordial, hints of caraway seed. With water, honey, leather, figs. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, blackcurrant cordial, milk chocolate, figs. 

Comments: 

A delicate and floral High Coast, with lots of fig and blackcurrant notes. Good whisky, surprisingly refreshing, and tastes excellent in a highball.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.

Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured

Filiers 10yo Sherry Oak Matured

Official bottling
Single malt - East Flanders
Copper brown

43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black tea, dunnage, black pepper, raisins, oak chips, sandalwood, hints of pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, dunnage, dark chocolate, oak chips. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, rye bread, dark chocolate, black pepper, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, but with a peppery rye note that doesn’t quite work with the rest of the sweet sherry notes. Still, quite an interesting whisky, as Belgium whiskies tend for be.

Verdict:

I like this.

John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured

John Crabbie Peated Virgin Oak Cask Matured

John Crabbie
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sea salt, vanilla, oak chips, peat, smoke, sour cream, hints of farmyard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Vanilla, peat, smoke, raisins, dried apricots, cream, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Long. Oak chips, smoke, soot, peat, sea salt. 

Comments: 

Quite harshly peated, but underneath there’s a gentle, light, slightly oily distillate with notes of vanilla and apricots. Decent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.