Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Official bottling
Single blend - Tōhoku
Pale gold

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, menthol, raisins, mint, malted grains, barley sugar, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Menthol, smoke, germolene, peat, honey, barley sugar, lemon zest, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, menthol, honey, smoke, malted grains. 

Comments: 

I’d guess only the malt part of this is peated. There’s some quite sophisticated notes here - apricots, menthol, and plenty of malty sweetness too. A very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Roberto Grande

Roberto Grande

Official bottling
Single blend - Carniola
Pale gold
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, fresh cut grass, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Fresh cut grass, aluminium foil, lemon zest, pear drops, thyme, vanilla, hints of germolene. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, aluminium foil, white pepper, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

There’s a fair bit of malt in this blend still, and it’s reminiscent of the single malt - herbal, grassy, something very like gin but with whisky sweetness. I prefer the single malt, but this isn’t half bad.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Foundry Clockface Three Grain Whiskey

The Foundry Clockface Three Grain Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - Kent
Amber
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanut butter, milk chocolate, molasses, vanilla, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peanut butter, oak chips, black pepper, vanilla, icing sugar, molasses, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Molasses, vanilla, toffee, black pepper. 

Comments: 

A well constructed whisky, lots of peanut butter and chocolate despite the virgin oak cask. It’s also bitter, mostly burnt sugar and molasses. The finish is short but intense, as might be expected for such a young whiskey.

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.

Togouchi Sake Cask Finish

Togouchi Sake Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single blend - Chūgoku
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, orange peel, white grapes, mint, malted grains, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cooked rice, magic marker, mint, malted grains, vanilla, pears, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. Cooked rice, orange peel, molasses, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Well, sake casks do impart some rice notes. Also there’s vanilla and fruit, and some estery notes that remind me f magic marker. The malt still shines through.

Verdict:

I like this.

Togouchi Premium

Togouchi Premium

Official bottling
Single blend - Chūgoku
Bronze gold 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, peaches, mushrooms, autumn leaves, molasses, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. New plastic, bananas, mushrooms, autumn leaves, orange peel, molasses, hints of gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, orange peel, bananas, molasses. 

Comments: 

Fruity, very gentle, and slightly plasticky. This is from Sakurao distillery and is fully Japanese. It’s aged in the famous railway tunnel (Togouchi labelled whiskies are).

Verdict:

I like this.

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Tōhoku
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, leather, molasses, malted grains, toffee, hints of sandalwood, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, molasses, tyre rubber, toffee, peat, leather, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Diesel exhaust, peat, leather, molasses, tyre rubber, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Malty, with a gentle lick of smoke on the nose. On the tongue it gets a bit more sulphurous, before fading to a short sharp finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

The Whistler - The Good, The Bad, The Smoky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Leinster
Copper gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, diesel exhaust, white grapes, apricots, peanuts, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sour. White wine, lemon juice, vanilla, peat, diesel exhaust, soot, smoke, cream. 
Finish: Short. White wine, wet stones, pencil lead, diesel exhaust. 

Comments: 

Just a little smoky, and it’s not bad at all. Quite layered, lots of distinct tasting notes, mostly white wine and wet stones, it’s very gentle and welcoming as a peated dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

St George Breaking and Entering Whiskey

St George Breaking and Entering Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - California
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, cola nuts, malted grains, black pepper, brown sugar, apples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Malted grains, brown paper, cinnamon, apples, brown sugar, butterscotch. 
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, malted grains, honey, butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Appley and herbal whisky, with plenty of sweet, even butterscotch notes. It’s very drinkable, almost quaffable, and has a nice malty sweet finish. Definitely a session whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Signal Hill Whisky

Signal Hill Whisky

Official bottling
Single blend - Ontario
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, raisins, pear drops, malted grains, cloves, hints of cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, raisins, orange peel, cough syrup. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, raisins, toffee, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Very estery, lots of cherry cough syrup, and pear drops. It’s a very simple whisky, not a huge amount of complexity, but well made and tasty.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Legendary Dark Silkie Cask Strength

The Legendary Dark Silkie Cask Strength

Silkie, Sliabh Lagh Distillers
Single blend - Leinster
Dark gold 
64.39% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, camphor, raisins, roast chicken, leather, magic marker, lemon zest, lemon sweets. With water, raisins, dark chocolate, cinnamon, cloves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, brown paper, roast chicken, leather, strawberry jam, cinnamon, fresh baked bread. With water, leather, cloves, dark chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate, coffee, roast chicken, strawberry jam. 

Comments: 

Batch 1/20. Highly sherried, extremely alcoholic blended whisky, distilled on contract by Great Northern. It’s spicy and meaty, heaping with chocolate and strawberry. Utterly delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Stauning Høst

Stauning Host

Official bottling
Single blend - Midtjylland
Pale amber
40.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bubble gum, black pepper, oatcakes, autumn leaves, gooseberries, hints of tutti frutti. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Oatcakes, gooseberries, lemon zest, apple juice, black pepper, cedar. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, bubble gum, oatcakes, aluminium foil. 

Comments: 

Rye, malt and grain all blended together from Stauning, at a surprisingly low ABV. It’s peppery but still loaded with sweet grain flavours, with a woody and feinty finish. Again surprisingly, I quite like the bubble gum here.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fuji Single Blended Whisky

Fuji Single Blended Whisky

Official bottling 
Single blend - West Honshu
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cloves, black tea, cooked rice, cotton sheets, malted grains, vanilla custard. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Sour cream, cooked rice, cotton sheets, chocolate, malted grains, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, cotton sheets, cooked rice, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Both grain and malt whisky blended from a single source. Unfortunately it’s not very distinctive - slightly tart, a little feinty and with a lot of vanilla and chocolate notes. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Kasei Blended Whiskey

Mars Kasei Blended Whiskey 

Official bottling 
Single blend - East Honshu
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, yuzu, green tea, malted grains, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Orange peel, yuzu, green tea, vanilla, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of honey. 
Finish: Short. Sea salt, fresh baked bread, malted grains, vanilla, hints of brown paper. 

Comments: 

Entry level bottling from Shinshu Mars. Quite citrusy, fairly good level of complexity for the ABV and the price point. The grain component makes it a bit cereally, and the flavour notes aren’t that well defined.

Verdict:

I like this.

Starward Two-Fold

Starward Two-Fold

Official bottling
Single blend - Victoria
Amber red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh baked bread, vanilla, toast, rolled oats, chocolate, raisins, toasted coconut. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, slightly watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Toasted coconut, milk chocolate, vanilla, white grapes, rolled oats. 
Finish: Medium. Rolled oats, vanilla, cream of wheat, fresh baked bread, hints of clotted cream. 

Comments: 

A blend of malt and grain, both distilled at New World, finished in their usual wine casks. It's cereally, laden with vanilla and spice, but with that blanket of wine flavours over it. I particularly like the finish, it's heaped with a sweet, wheaty, chewy bite.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akashi Red Blended Whisky

Akashi Red Blended Whisky

Official bottling
Single blend - West Honshu
Golden
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, green tea, smoked almonds, dried peaches, hints of leather, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slightly sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Dried peaches, fresh baked bread, raisins, tobacco leaf, mint, vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Mint, tobacco leaf, white grapes, hints of oats. 

Comments: 

Eigashima whiskies are always light and sweet, but over the years they've been getting more complex. This one has lots of cereal in addition to the fruity notes, and some alluring tobacco as well. Quite tasty and refreshing, especially with ice.

Verdict:

I like this.

Adnams Triple Malt Whiskey

Adnams Triple Malt Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - East Anglia
Bright gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, bananas, green tea, peaches, hints of papayas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, slippery, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brown paper, papayas, magic marker, honey, bananas, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Medium. Green tea, bananas, cinnamon, pears. 

Comments: 

A blend of wheat, barley and oat spirit. It's not quite as spicy and lively as rye, but it's got huge fruit notes, with some tannic hints that make all the difference. Not your usual grain, not your usual blend either.

Verdict:

I like this.

Akashi Blended Whisky

Akashi Blended Whisky

Official bottling
Single blend - West Honshu
Orange gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cola nuts, photocopy paper, orange peel, peanuts, white pepper, hints of cotton sheets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, slightly sticky, balls up on the tongue. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cola nuts, peanuts, honey, molasses, cream. 
Finish: Short. Honey, white pepper, cream, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A proper blended whisky - the flagship White Oak contains some molasses spirit. I believe that this was created for the EU market originally, but can be found all over the world (I bought the bottle in Singapore). It's well constructed, reasonably complex, and very easy-drinking. It's almost swiggable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Koval Four Grain Whiskey

Koval Four Grain Whiskey

Official bottling
Single blend - Illinois
Amber
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, magic marker, rolled oats, hay, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly sticky, mouth coating. 
Tasting: Salty. Sea salt, rolled oats, vanilla, salt caramel, green tea, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Cucumber, rolled oats, cooked rice, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Made from oats, malted barley, rye and wheat. The rye and oats overpower any barley flavour, I think. There's a hint of vanilla, courtesy of the charred oak barrels this is aged in, then a very welcome hit of fresh cucumber in the finish. Unusual, and superb.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Jameson Gold

Jameson Gold

Official bottling
Single blend - Southern Ireland
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, cotton sheets, apples, cloves, cinnamon, hints of cardamom. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, cool, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, cloves, white grapes, raisins, chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, honey, cloves, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Well, this is a surprise! This whisky is spicy, fruity and assertive, full of honeyed glory. Much better value than the previous whisky, and certainly a better whisky all round. Great value for its price point.

Verdict:

I like this.