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.

Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Cotswolds distillery
Vatted malt
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, white grapes, parchment paper, white pepper, malted grains, orange peel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, orange peel, white grapes, winter melons, honey, white pepper, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, white pepper, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A vatting of Cotswolds and Milk & Honey distillate. Malty, fruity but with a paperiness that’s especially apparent on the nose. The whiskies do complement each other though.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Glover 6yo

The Glover 6yo

Adelphi
Vatted malt
Pale orange
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, white grapes, pomeloes, malted grains, pencil lead, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, pencil lead, peaches, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pomeloes, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, green tea, hints of pencil lead. With water, vanilla, malted grains, white pepper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, wet stones, vanilla, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Deliciously tangy and fruity, but with plenty of feinty minerally notes. There’s tannins here too, herbal green tea that takes over after a few seconds. A great meeting of distillates, this blending of Chichibu and Ardnamurchan.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

The Sandebud 6yo

The Sandebud 6yo

Adelphi

 Vatted malt - Multi-country

Amber 

58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, germolene, orange peel, salt caramel, leather, cedar, hints of smoke. With water, orange peel, toast, roast pork, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, peat, orange peel, germolene, nutmeg, sea salt, cinnamon, cedar, smoke. With water, toast, germolene, orange peel, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Long. Germolene, photocopy paper, smoke, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

A blend of Ardnamurchan and High Coast. Meaty, smoky, woody and fruity, it’s a good melding of complex malts with personality. Water brings out some spicy and feinty notes that complement the smokiness. Quite delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this.

The Orientalist 8yo

The Orientalist 8yo

The Orientalist
Blended malt - Multi-country
Amber, hints of gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, honey, cocoa nibs, vanilla, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Golden syrup, raisins, vanilla, fresh baked bread, lemon juice, salt caramel. 
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, vanilla, milk chocolate, black tea. 

Comments: 

A blend of malt from Japan, Taiwan and India, the three Asian whisky powerhouses. It’s salty sweet, lots of sweet fruity notes abound. But it’s not really that complex.

Verdict:

I like this.

Vindöga Blended Nordic Malt

Vindöga Blended Nordic Malt 

Nordic Casks #2, Berry Bros & Rudd 
Blended malt
Dark amber gold
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, red grapes, leather, saffron, cinnamon, smoked bacon, hints of driftwood smoke. With water, raisins, honey, smoked bacon, saffron. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, honey, Chinese angelica, driftwood smoke, cinnamon, smoked bacon, leather, dried apricots. With water, Chinese angelica, saffron, leather, dried apricots, hints of driftwood smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoked bacon, peat, leather, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A blend of malts from across the Nordic region - Smögen, Fary Lochan, Teerenpeli, Mosgård, Myken, High Coast. It’s balanced - sweet, herbal, meaty and smoky, hitting lots of right spots. Very indeed, and a very decent session dram, despite the strength. I’d say it’s mostly Danish in composition, it’s not as smoky as I’d have expected if it were mostly Swedish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.