Kentucky 6yo Brandy Finish

Kentucky 6yo Brandy Finish

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Aluminium foil, corn syrup, vanilla, sea salt, popcorn, ink, hints of white pepper. With water, popcorn, ink, corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, vanilla, white grapes, white pepper, prunes, popcorn. With water, blackcurrant cordial, ink, aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Blackcurrant cordial, raisins, white pepper, aluminium foil, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Quite metallic and sweet. Some of this is the corn in the mash bill of course. On the tongue, it’s quite jammy and fruity, with a hint of white pepper. Water brings out that slightly metallic character again. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Peat Smoked Sea Salt 11yo 2014/2025

Peat Smoked Sea Salt 11yo 2014/2025

Elevenses Whisky, Keeble Cask Company
Single malt - Ardmore
Pale orange
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peanuts, petrol exhaust, smoke, soot, yoghurt, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Lemon zest, yoghurt, malted grains, petrol exhaust, burning leaves, soot, hints of sour cream. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, yoghurt, lemon juice, burning leaves. 

Comments: 

I’m fairly sure this is an Ardmore. It’s got some interesting burning leaves notes, with lots of citrusy lemon. It’s also slightly lactic, maybe a little too lactic for me.

Verdict:

I like this.

Carsebridge 48yo 1975/2024

Carsebridge 48yo 1975/2024

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single grain - Central Highlands
Dark yellow
45.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, vanilla, toffee, aluminium foil, white chocolate, black tea, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Blackcurrant cordial, vanilla, toffee, peaches, cocoa nibs, coffee, honey, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, peaches, honey, vanilla, toffee. 

Comments: 

Cask 455300. Quite fruity, but with cereally tones characteristic of aged grain. Chocolate and coffee and really apparent on the tongue, and it all builds to a nice log sweet finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Aberfeldy 10yo 2014/2024

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single malt - Central Highlands
Bright gold
60.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acetone, toffee, pear drops, cola nuts, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, malted grains, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, acetone, fresh baked bread, honey, burnt sugar, hints of cola nuts. With water, malted grains, honey, hoppy beer. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, pear drops, fresh baked bread, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 252. Very high ABV, so the spirity nature of the whisky stands out initially. It’s volatile and quite sweet. In the tongue some tart notes come to the fore, mainly beery notes. It’s got a very short finish for the ABV.

Verdict:

I like this.