Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Bonded International Series, Killowen bottler
Single grain - Tasmania
Amber brown, hints of green
59.42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, chocolate, raisins, walnut skins, oregano, fresh cut grass, hints of black pepper. With water, diesel exhaust, black pepper, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peanuts, raisins, walnut skins, thyme, diesel exhaust, autumn leaves, hints of ume. With water, raisins, autumn leaves, thyme, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, diesel exhaust, raisins, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Green and herbal, but with underlying notes of raisins and chocolate. There also a bitter undertone, that I interpret as diesel exhaust and walnut skins. Perhaps a little too young.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian whisky)

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Ex Pinot Noirc ex Tasmanian whisky)

International Series, Killowen bottler
Single grain - Tasmania
Amber gold 
59.79% ABV

Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, clay dust, white pepper, photocopy paper, sandalwood, birch sap, hints of oak chips. With water, lemon juice, oak chips, hints of tyre rubber. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty. Peanut butter, oak chips, sea salt, toast, sandalwood, photocopy paper, lemon juice, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, lemon juice, birch sap, peanut butter. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, peanut butter, butterscotch, toast. 

Comments: 

Salty oat spirit, quite unbalanced. It’s green and sappy, but also laden with peanut butter and some sulphurous notes. Water brings out more sulphur and sappy notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen Rum and Raisin Single Malt (Great Northern)

Killowen bottler
Single malt - Leinster
Yellow gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, yoghurt, sultanas, cocoa nibs, coffee, hints of butterscotch. With water, peanuts, farmyard, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, slippery, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, sultanas, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, cream, yoghurt, vanilla. With water, damson jam, rum, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, white pepper, cream, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Sweet and nutty, but with a bitter edge. Water brings out some interesting notes, mostly from the cask, but there’s a big whiff of farmyard smells on the nose.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove Rye 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian Malt)

Belgrove Rye 3yo (Ex Pinot Noir, ex Tasmanian Malt)

Killowen International Series, Killowen distillery 
Single rye - Tasmania
Pale gold
60.61% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oats, aluminium foil, strawberry jam, ume, burnt sugar, vanilla, hints of smoke. With water, rubber bands, smoke, strawberry jam, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, airy, loosens. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Petrol exhaust, ume, smoke, burnt sugar, wet stones, black pepper, hints of aluminium foil. With water, smoke, black pepper, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, burnt sugar, smoke, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Fruity and slight sour, with many feinty notes. Lots of spicy notes from the rye too. It fades rather quickly to a sort, intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Belgrove Rye 3yo

Belgrove Rye 3yo

Bonded International Series, Killowen bottler 
Single rye - Tasmania
Amber, hints of red
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ume, oatcakes, new plastic, white pepper, cumin, photocopy paper, aluminium foil. With water, sea salt, damson jam, aluminium foil, ume.  
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Aluminium foil, camphor, mace, cumin, photocopy paper, damson jam, ume. With water, leather, aluminium foil, Chinese angelica, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, cumin, damson jam, ume, mace. 

Comments: 

Sweet, peppery and feinty. This is the Tasmanian whisky dried with sheep dung. It’s not as farmyardy as the previous Belgrove I had, but it’s quite spicy and savoury. Unusual and highly enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.