Reservoir Wheat 2yo Batch 1

Reservoir Wheat 2yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Virginia
Amber
47.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Nectarines, strawberries, honey, green tea, photocopy paper, hints of condensed milk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green tea, nectarines, honey, lemon zest, white pepper, chamomile, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, chamomile, nectarines, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

Fruity, lots of herbal notes, but they’re quite gentle and mostly in the background. No water required, I felt that would kill some of these gentle background notes. A rather short finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

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.

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

Cooley 17yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Leinster
Straw
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, white wine, sour cream, white grapes, ink, nail varnish, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, cool, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Yoghurt, sour cream, white grapes, raisins, mangoes, nail varnish, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, coffee, molasses, nail varnish, yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, with tropical fruit and plenty of maltiness. Even on the tongue the lactic note persists. The finish is quite short but intense, with a bitter, watery edge.

Verdict:

I like this.

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

North of Scotland 46yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, oak chips, croissants, sawdust, ink, vanilla, pear drops, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, mouth coating, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, sawdust, ink, pear drops, lemon zest, croissants, hints of magic marker. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, magic marker, sandalwood, lemon zest, oak chips. 

Comments: 

A very old grain, probably over oaked. It’s definitely quite woody, but there’s also a layer of buttery vanilla. Also some paper ones to go along with the oak.

Verdict:

I like this.

Eddu 14yo Batch 1

Eddu 14yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Brittany 
Bright gold
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, malted grains, pear drops, hints of sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, vitamin C tablets, lemon zest, orange peel, lemon juice, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, malted grains, fresh baked bread, white pepper, hints of orange peel. 

Comments: 

Citrusy, light mouth feel at first then sits heavier on the tongue. Quite malty with plenty of fruit. A nice finish that turns bitter and fragrant. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Killara 2yo Batch 1

Killara 2yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Tasmania
Amber gold
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, chocolate, peanuts, raisins, sea salt, cream, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, mouth coating, hot, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Shortcrust pastry, chocolate, peanuts, honey, damson jam, raisins, cloves, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, peanuts, chocolate, shortcrust pastry, honey. 

Comments: 

This whisky tastes a bit like plum pudding! Lots of pastry notes, damsons and winter spices abound. It’s a nice thick, heavy mouthfeel too. The only detractor is that the finish is quite short.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Puni 4yo Oloroso Cask Finish

Puni 4yo Oloroso Cask Finish

Darkness, Master of Malt
Single malt - Alto Adige
Dark gold
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, peaches, white pepper, aluminium foil, fresh baked bread, hints of apricot jam. With water, malted grains, red grapes, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peaches, apricot jam, raisins, red grapes, malted grains, chocolate, fresh baked bread, damson jam, hints of coffee. With water, black tea, fresh baked bread, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, chocolate, fresh baked bread, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Cask 11813/2020. Very jammy and sweet, lots of sherried notes from the cask. Water brings out some malt and some bread, but it’s still very cask forward.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 3

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Colorado
Dark amber red
67.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, desiccated coconut, red grapes, brown paper, honeycomb, orange peel. With water, honeycomb, damson jam, artificial grape flavour, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Damson jam, malted grains, cream, red grapes, artificial grape flavour, honeycomb, hints of oak chips. With water, sea salt, strawberry jam, artificial grape flavour, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Artificial grape flavour, black pepper, honeycomb, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Oof, the cask totally influences this. Honeyed, lots of strawberry and damson jam notes, but also that tang of Fanta grape. Luscious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalmunach 7yo Batch 1

Dalmunach 7yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Pale pink
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon zest, cream, malted grains, tyre rubber, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Butterscotch, lemon zest, cream, yoghurt, malted grains, cinder toffee, hints of tyre rubber. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, fresh cut grass, butterscotch, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Lactic and tart, lots of sour notes, then builds to a sulphurous crescendo. The sulphur is shot through with caramelly sweetness on the tongue, tasting very much like burnt toffee.

Verdict:

I like this.

Puni 4yo PX Cask Finish

Puni 4yo PX Cask Finish

Darkness, Master of Malt
Single malt - Alto Adige
Amber brown
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, yoghurt, peaches, raisins, redcurrants, malted grains, black tea. With water, redcurrants, cough syrup, raisins, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, fresh baked bread, black pepper, redcurrants, raisins, coffee, cream. With water, sea salt, fresh baked bread, cough syrup, mint. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, peaches, coffee, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 11813/1006. A very classic Pedro Ximenez finish, lots of cough syrup and red fruit. It mellows on the finish to coffee and peaches, and water opens it up beautifully. My other thought, however, was that the cask is almost all of it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Riverbourne 2yo Batch 2

Riverbourne 2yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - New South Wales
Golden, hints of orange 
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, leather, peaches, limes, peat, orange juice, hints of pineapples, hints of sandalwood. With water, photocopy paper, olive brine, orange juice. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Rye bread, photocopy paper, black pepper, smoke, pineapples, cloves, hints of sea salt. With water, rye bread, black pepper, sandalwood. 
Finish: Medium. Rye bread, sandalwood, cloves, orange juice, pineapples. 

Comments: 

Quite savoury, yet it’s fruity. It’s clearly been aged in a warmer climate, it’s got a lot of flavour for its age. It’s almost too savoury, the salt and rye are really evident and threaten to overwhelm the more delicate fruit.

Verdict:

I like this.

Circumstance Batch 2 3yo

Circumstance Batch 2 3yo

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single grain - Bristol 
Amber
51.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk chocolate, cream, rye bread, fresh cut grass, brown paper. With water, raisins, cream, oatcakes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Brown paper, milk chocolate, raisins, brown sugar, butterscotch, cream, hints of olive brine. With water, milk chocolate, cream, oatcakes. 
Finish: Long. Brown paper, rye bread, milk chocolate, hints of olive brine. 

Comments: 

Savoury sweet grain whisky, lots of cereal in this. Less sweet than most grains, with some interesting savoury notes such as olive brine. An especially long, intense finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Southern Finland
Amber gold
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, black pepper, strawberry jam, brown paper, leather, tobacco leaf, hints of sour cream. With water, magic marker, roast chicken, damson jam, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Brown paper, camphor, sandalwood, black pepper, tobacco leaf, damson jam, cherries, hints of smoke. With water, brown paper, cherries, sandalwood, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, brown paper, damson jam, cherries. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, I think this has a big proportion of barley in it. It’s rye whisky though, lots of spicy sweet notes. I think it’s well-aged, particularly like the jammy cherry notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kyrö 4yo Batch 2

Kyrö 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Southern Finland
Pale amber gold
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, sandalwood, vanilla ice cream, photocopy paper, parchment, hints of smoke, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Farmyard, raisins, smoke, rye bread, black pepper, parchment, Chinese angelica, sandalwood, hints of vanilla ice cream. 
Finish: Short. Farmyard, raisins, black pepper, rye bread. 

Comments: 

Very feinty and herbaceous, but lots of that pungent farmyard note. It’s also a little sweet, and perhaps slightly floral on the nose. Decent dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Emperor’s Way 4yo Batch 1

Emperor’s Way 4yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria
Bright amber
54.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, leather, sherry, red grapes, peat, farmyard, autumn leaves, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, wet stones, honey, pears, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, smoke, farmyard, pears, red grapes, autumn leaves, petrichor, hints of charcoal ash. With water, peat, smoke, red grapes, wet stones. 
Finish: Long. Petrichor, autumn leaves, smoke, farmyard, honey. 

Comments: 

Peated whisky from Hammerschmiede distillery, which also makes Elsburn. It’s sherried, lots of sweet notes with layers of complexity. It’s also reminiscent of a farm after rain, but not in an unpleasant way. Quite tasty. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Braeval 9yo Batch 5

Braeval 9yo Batch 5

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
57.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, molasses, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon. With water, honey, molasses, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Molasses, dark chocolate, honey, vanilla, roast pork, black pepper, cocoa nibs, black tea, hints of sea salt. With water, raisins, cream, damson jam, molasses, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Mint, black pepper, dark chocolate, sea salt, hints of roast pork. 

Comments: 

Sherried Braeval, lots of spicy sweet notes. Particularly molasses, deep, dark and a little bitter. Water brings in more jammy notes, and a little cream. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

Distillery 291 3yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Colorado
Amber red
66.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, vanilla, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, rye bread, black pepper, honey. With water, cooked rice, strawberry jam, honey, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, vanilla, blackcurrant cordial, strawberry jam, photocopy paper, black pepper, cough syrup. With water, black tea, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial. 
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cough syrup, blackcurrant cordial, black tea. 

Comments: 

Fruity rye, lots of blackcurrant and cough syrup notes alongside the characteristic black pepper. It softens a lot with water, turning more cereally and sweet.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

Fary Lochan 6yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Syddanmark
Pale green gold
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, lemon juice, ink, leather, brown sugar, gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour. White grapes, photocopy paper, oatcakes, aluminium foil, ink, autumn leaves, smoke, hints of leather. 
Finish: Medium. Oatcakes, photocopy paper, lemon juice, ink, leather. 

Comments: 

Feinty and metallic, with earth and smoke. Lots of white grapes and a little citrus, but it’s mainly peaty. It’s quite complex for a 6yo whisky, and quite nice. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

Santa Fe 4yo Batch 2

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - New Mexico
Dark amber red 
59.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, cloves, raisins, malted grains, cotton sheets, photocopy paper, honey. With water, red grapes, strawberry jam, malted grains, menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, thickens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red grapes, raisins, menthol, malted grains, wheat beer, oatcakes, photocopy paper. With water, raisins, strawberry jam, black pepper, malted grains. 
Finish: Long. Cloves, orange peel, menthol, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite intense and sweet, lots of sweet notes mingle with feinty and spicy notes. Huge long finish, which fades to herbal spiciness. Very good indeed, I love that it’s cask strength. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

St Kilian 5yo Batch 1

St Kilian 5yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Bavaria
Amber pink
53.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, malted grains, lemon zest, raisins, cocoa nibs, sea salt, hints of garlic. With water, raisins, brown paper, cocoa nibs, hints of garlic. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Hoppy beer, black pepper, raisins, malted grains, yoghurt, brown paper, hints of garlic. With water, black pepper, sea salt, oak chips, hints of garlic. 
Finish: Long. Hoppy beer, sea salt, brown paper, raisins, hints of garlic. 

Comments: 

Spicy and malty, but with a slightly strange garlicky edge. It’s pervasive, making the whisky savoury sweet. A very unusual combination of flavours that I’ve never had before. 

Verdict:

I like this.