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.

London Distillery Co 10yo Ten Times Around the Sun Bourbon Cask

London Distillery Co 10yo Ten Times Around the Sun Bourbon Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Dark gold
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, marmalade, dunnage, raspberry jam, leather, malted grains, nectarines. With water, malted grains, gooseberries, marmalade, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White pepper, peaches, nectarines, white grapes, malted grains, gooseberries, marmalade, hints of cucumbers. With water, black tea, peaches, marmalade, nectarines. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, cucumbers, gooseberries, hints of raspberry jam. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, beautiful golden colour, should be stripped back and malty but is surprisingly sweet and complex. Water brings out jammy notes and some tannins. Not your usual bourbon cask!

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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.

London Distillery Company Embarque

London Distillery Company Embarque

Official bottling
Single malt - London 
Amber brown 
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raspberry jam, malted grains, fresh baked bread, chocolate, hints of rye bread, hints of black pepper. With water, roast chicken, black pepper, hints of new plastic. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, rye bread, raspberry jam, golden syrup, black pepper, hints of new plastic. With water, malted grains, rye bread, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, dark chocolate, malted grains, rye bread, hints of new plastic. 

Comments: 

Quite jammy and sweet. The distillery character seems to be a peppery, spicy distillate with feinty mid palate notes. This expression has a long fragrant, slightly bitter finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

London Distillery Company Yesteryear 6yo (bottled 2025)

Official bottling
Single rye - London
Amber brown
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, dried apricots, dried pears, dried blueberries, raisins, black pepper, cloves, hints of farmyard. With water, strawberry jam, dried apricots, magic marker, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, volatile, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Blackcurrant cordial, dried pears, dried apricots, black pepper, brown paper, golden syrup, cloves, hints of orange juice. With water, pear drops, magic marker, black pepper, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Dried pears, brown paper, golden syrup, orange juice, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

London rye whisky! The obligatory black pepper note is present but it’s overlaid with heaps of other things. Ribena, golden syrup, sweet dried fruit and even cloves. Water brings out estery chemical notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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.

East London Liquor Co Radikon Merlot

East London Liquor Co Radikon Merlot

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Orange brown 
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, malted grains, vanilla, honey, plums, strawberry jam, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, orange juice, lemon zest, damson jam, strawberry jam, cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Damson jam, malted grains, barley sugar, orange juice. 

Comments: 

Cask 485. Orangey and sweet sour, there are some clear hints of the wine cask finish. Lots of damson jam notes especially on the tongue and the finish. On the nose it’s plums.

Verdict:

I like this.

Debt Collector Whisky 100 Proof

Debt Collector Whisky 100 Proof

Official bottling
Single blend - London
Amber
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, vanilla, black pepper, honey, fresh baked bread, bananas, hints of brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, black pepper, fresh baked bread, brown paper, red grapes, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, brown paper, fresh baked bread, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

English whisky made in a bourbon style. Rather sweet and raisiny, and there’s a lot of bread and cereal notes. Still, it has the bourbon sweetness and light banana flavour.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Distillery Company Renascence

London Distillery Company Renascence

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Pale amber gold
58% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, sandalwood, peaches, malted grains, coffee, honey, hints of autumn leaves. With water, pear drops, orange juice, peaches, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Apricots, peaches, malted grains, coffee, honey, sandalwood, nutmeg, hints of black pepper. With water, honey, malted grains, peaches, hints of apricots. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, honey, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Interesting whisky from a distillery that died and came back to life. Lots of spice, fruit and a little bit of earthiness. Water opens up the distillate, bringing in oranges, peaches and honey.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

East London Liquor Co PX Cask (Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive)

East London Liquor Co PX Cask (Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber, hints of red
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, malted grains, honey, aluminium foil, magic marker, hints of roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, malted grains, honey, strawberry jam, cloves, nutmeg, aluminium foil, black tea, hints of blueberries. 
Finish: Long. Aluminium foil, black tea, blueberries, nutmeg, hints of roast chicken. 

Comments: 

Jammy, slightly meaty, lots of fruit with a metallic edge. Quite an interesting malt, there’s a lot of layers here despite its fairly young age.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber ex Bourbon Batch 4

Bimber ex Bourbon Batch 4

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Golden
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, honey, peaches, malted grains, sandalwood, rhubarb and custard sweets, hints of white pepper. With water, pear drops, malted grains, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon zest, green tea, photocopy paper, rhubarb and custard sweets, honey, malted grains, hints of gooseberries. With water, pear drops, malted grains, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, green tea, sandalwood, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Fruity and rich, but not so sweet. There’s some nice, slightly herbal tannic notes mixed in too. Quite a good Bimber, not as intense as some of their previous releases. I like this stripped back version.

Verdict:

I like this.

London Rye Whisky Chardonnay

London Rye Whisky Chardonnay

Official bottling
Single rye - London
Golden, hints of pink
57.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, lemon zest, strawberry laces, white wine, blackcurrant cordial, white pepper. With water, honey, apricot jam, rye bread. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Strawberry laces, soot, cinder toffee, white wine, pencil erasers, honey, rye bread. With water, honey, pencil erasers, apricot jam, white wine, rye bread. 
Finish: Short. Apricot jam, strawberry laces, soot, white wine. 

Comments: 

Cask 57. Sweet and sour, but with an undertone of soot and smoke. There’s some peppery rye notes, but this is unlike most other ryes I’ve had - it’s less sweet, and perhaps spicier.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber 3yo 2020/2024

Bimber 3yo 2020/2024

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber
59.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oregano, honey, sage, butter, cinnamon, roast chicken, malted grains, hints of vanilla. With water, orange peel, lemon sweets, cinnamon, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, lemon juice, vanilla, roast chicken, rosemary, butter, sage, honey. With water, honey, rosemary, orange peel, cinnamon, sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, roast chicken, malted grains, sage, honey. 

Comments: 

Cask 202020. Meaty and substantial, lots of cinnamon and sandalwood too. It’s got the characteristic intense Bimber flavour, despite its very young age. Good dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Debt Collector Moonshine 1yo

Debt Collector Moonshine 1yo

Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, raisins, orange peel, burnt sugar, cinnamon, strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expanss, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, malted grains, caramel, cream, raisins, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Brown paper, burnt sugar, orange peel, raisins. 

Comments: 

Not sure about this - I get that distilleries need cash flow and release stuff that’s not quite whisky, but this is decidedly odd. It’s jammy and sweet, but there’s an unbalanced, artificial note. It’s ok.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Bimber Virgin Cask No 91

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, red grapes, camphor, black pepper, apricot jam, cloves, hints of applesauce. With water, malted grains, cola nuts, oatcakes, red grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, expands, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, oatcakes, camphor, wheat beer, apricot jam, cloves, chocolate. With water, apricot jam, malted grains, cola nuts, red grapes. 
Finish: Medium. Wheat beer, cloves, applesauce, molasses. 

Comments: 

Fruity and malty, lots of spicy notes. There’s more than a whiff of Coca Cola. Water expands the range of flavours, strengthening that Coca Cola note. Rather good, but not as good as Bimber can be.

Verdict:

I like this.

East London Liquor Co 3yo 2019/2023

East London Liquor Co 3yo 2019/2023

#02, The Heart Cut
Single rye - London
Red
49.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, orange peel, lemon zest, tyre rubber, cocoa nibs, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, cinnamon, tyre rubber, cinder toffee, coffee, hints of cherries. 
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, cherries, orange peel, black tea, hints of tyre rubber. 

Comments: 

Rye whiskey aged in a chocolate stout cask. It’s sweet and dense, almost like chocolate fruity cake. It’s one of the few cases where a strong ABV was not a good idea, so it comes in at just under 50%, which I think is ideal.

Verdict:

I like this.

East London Liquor Co Single Malt

East London Liquor Co Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Sunshine yellow

47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, hoppy beer, grapefruit, kiwifruit, hints of green tea, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Malted grains, honey, hoppy beer, grapefruit, leather, pears, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, pears, honey, hints of white pepper, hints of new plastic. 

Comments: 

Tart, fruity, bitter and… plasticky? Not sure it was quite ready, but it’s certainly promising. Will have another dibble if there’s one released with an age statement in the future.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bimber Port Cask (bottled for Nickolls & Perks)

Bimber Port Cask (bottled for Nickolls & Perks)

Official bottling 
Single malt - London
Amber red
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Coconut cream, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, vanilla custard, buttered toast, hints of peanuts. With water, coconut cream, raisins, buttered toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, strawberries, vanilla, orange peel, buttered toast, malted grains, milk powder, hints of cloves. With water, black tea, buttered toast, strawberries, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, buttered toast, cinnamon, cloves. 

Comments: 

Cask 40. Biscuity and buttery, lots of delicious winey flavours. The ABV is a little bit in your face for such a young whisky. Lots of nutty notes on the nose that fade on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.