Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Spirit of North Scotland 48yo 1973

Bartels Whisky
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber brown
25% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, oak chips, malted grains, ice cream soda, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, static, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, coconut cream, oak chips, burnt sugar, pear drops, magic marker, orange peel. 
Finish: Short. White pepper, vanilla, pear drops, ice cream soda, hints of oak chips. 

Comments: 

Quite woody, but in this case the low strength works in its favour. It’s not whisky of course, just spirit drink, but it’s taken on quite a lot of the wood flavours. Very interesting indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

North British 43yo 1982/2025

North British 43yo 1982/2025

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark copper
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, raisins, golden syrup, nutmeg, vanilla, cream, brown paper, cola nuts. With water, cream, cola nuts, cough syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Raisins, cream, cough mixture, brown paper, cola nuts, milk chocolate, vanilla. With water, vanilla, coconut cream, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, brown paper, raisins, cream. 

Comments: 

Cask 25537. Lots of sweet sticky notes, creamy and milky (but not lactic!). Water brings out a note of coconut cream, and accentuates the chocolate. Lovely old grain whisky

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn

Don Michael Black Whiskey Corn

Official bottling

Single grain - Lima
Dark copper
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Farmyard, roast chicken, leather, raisins, damson jam, black pepper, cooked rice, hints of oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Black pepper, damson jam, raisins, coked rice, oak chips, vanilla, golden syrup, hints of roast chicken. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, black pepper, black tea, raisins, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

Not as sweet as I’d expected, for corn whisky. Lots of estery and spicy notes though, and there’s some meaty, even farminess on the palate. It builds to a long, slightly bitter, fragrant finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Busker Single Grain

The Busker Single Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - Leinster
Golden
44.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Chocolate, vanilla, desiccated coconut, orange peel, nutmeg, toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, tingly.
Tasting:  Sweet. Toffee, caramel, black pepper, menthol, nutmeg, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Short. Toffee, orange peel, vanilla, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Quite a simple, straightforward whisky, with toffee, caramel, and grain whisky note if desiccated coconut. Plenty of vanilla and brown paper as well, flavours I usually associate with bourbon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale

Black Fox Single Grain Tritticosecale 

Official bottling
Single grain - Saskatchewan
Amber red 
48.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, red grapes, blackberries, vanilla, desiccated coconut, sandalwood, fresh baked bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brown paper, desiccated coconut, raisins, pear drops, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, rye bread, black pepper, raisins. 

Comments: 

High rye flavour. The grain is a rye-wheat hybrid, and brings the usual black pepper notes. There’s also some creamy cereal, with plenty of grain whisky coconut flavours.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Whistler Mosaic Marsala Cask

The Whistler Mosaic Marsala Cask

Official bottling 
Single grain - Leinster
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, peaches, ice cream soda, desiccated coconut, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Desiccated coconut, raspberry jam, vanilla, honey, cola nuts, cloves, nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, molasses, honey, cola nuts, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Fruity and fragrant, lots of honeyed notes and plenty of ja. The Marsala cask sweetens what is already quite a delicate and sweet whisky. I’d have gone a little gentler with the wood but it’s a decent dram nonetheless.

Verdict:

I like this.

Circumstance 3yo Inaugural Grain Whisky

Circumstance 3yo Inaugural Grain Whisky

Official bottling 
Single grain - Bristol
Pale orange gold
42.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, sandalwood, molasses, cream, vanilla, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, mouth coating, tingly, slightly warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Fresh baked bread, honey, raisins, orange peel, vanilla, brown paper, cinnamon, hints of leather. 
Finish: Short. Vanilla, honey, fresh baked bread, raisins. 

Comments: 

1:11:129:37 - not quite sure what these codes mean. Last number is number of months in cask perhaps. It’s cereally and rather sweet, young, fresh and intense. Quite a nice dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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.

Dry Fly Cask Strength Straight Wheat

Dry Fly Cask Strength Straight Wheat

Official bottling
Single grain - Washington

Orange gold
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, nail varnish, hoppy beer, shredded wheat, white pepper, honey. With water, white pepper, honey, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Shredded wheat, white pepper, honey, nail varnish, hints of cornflakes. With water, nail varnish, white pepper, lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Shredded wheat, ink, white pepper, nutmeg, apricots. 

Comments: 

Estery, volatile and fruity. Not very balanced for sure, but there is an interesting cereally note with plenty of peppery spice, especially once water is added. It ends in a short fruity finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Invergordon 30yo 1990/2020

Invergordon 30yo 1990/2020

#179, Maltbarn
Single grain - North Highlands
Dark gold
53.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, popcorn, pear drops, vanilla, peaches, apricots, white grapes. With water, popcorn, vanilla, corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peaches, pear drops, vanilla, apricots, corn syrup, rhubarb and custard sweets, white pepper. With water, popcorn, apricots, vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, pear drops, vanilla, apricots. 

Comments: 

Very fruity and bright, it wears its age lightly. Plenty of apricots and peaches, even pear drops. Water brings out the grain - popcorn and vanilla abound.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Girvan 19yo 2002/2022

Girvan 19yo 2002/2022

Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, vanilla, oak chips, lemon zest, hints of smoke, hints of gooseberries. With water, oak chips, molasses, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, corn syrup, white pepper, oak chips, malted grains, popcorn, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, lemon zest, popcorn. 
Finish: Medium. Photocopy paper, sandalwood, popcorn, toffee, hints of desiccated coconut. 

Comments: 

Cask DL 16487. Floral and woody, with plenty of popcorn, and perhaps a touch of smoke. Water brings out more vanilla, more wood and even more popcorn. Decent dram. 

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.

Carsebridge 48yo 1975/2024

Carsebridge 48yo 1975/2024

Fragrant Drops, Keeble Cask Company
Single grain - Central Highlands
Dark yellow
45.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, vanilla, toffee, aluminium foil, white chocolate, black tea, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Blackcurrant cordial, vanilla, toffee, peaches, cocoa nibs, coffee, honey, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, peaches, honey, vanilla, toffee. 

Comments: 

Cask 455300. Quite fruity, but with cereally tones characteristic of aged grain. Chocolate and coffee and really apparent on the tongue, and it all builds to a nice log sweet finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Girvan 27yo 1996/2023

Girvan 27yo 1996/2023

Whisky Blues, The Whisky Age
Single grain - Lowlands
Bronze
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Acetone, malted grains, black pepper, rye bread, sea salt, white grapes, hints of peaches. With water, vanilla, pear drops, fresh baked bread, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Pear drops, fresh baked bread, acetone, peaches, vanilla, popcorn. With water, vanilla, peaches, pear drops, popcorn. 
Finish: Long. White grapes, popcorn, vanilla, black pepper, pear drops. 

Comments: 

A rather good aged grain, lots of fruity notes. The vanilla / slightly estery note is turned down, or perhaps matured into something very much like pear drops. Water brings out notes of popcorn and peaches.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Circumstance Single Grain 1:11:1:29:37

Circumstance Single Grain 1:11:1:29:37

Official bottling
Single grain - Bristol
Bright gold
42.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pomeloes, cherry blossom, white grapes, lemon zest, white pepper, cotton sheets, hints of gooseberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cherry blossom, pomeloes, white grapes, sour cream, white pepper, marmalade, lemon curd, hints of new plastic. 
Finish: Short. Lemon curd, cherry blossom, white grapes, hints of sour cream. 

Comments: 

Light and flavourful, lots of lactic and fruity notes. Soft and delicate, lots of layers and complexity for a young whisky. Unexpectedly impressive.

Verdict:

I like this.

Invergordon 30yo 1994/2024

Invergordon 30yo 1994/2024

Capella, North Star Spirits
Single grain - North Highlands
Golden, hints of copper
50% ABV

Dram

Nose: Vanilla, toffee, desiccated coconut, sandalwood, wheat beer, hints of photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, volatile, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Toffee, sea salt, salt caramel, wheat beer, raisins, dates, photocopy paper, hints of cooked rice.
Finish: Medium. Vanilla, toffee, salt caramel, dates. 

Comments: 

Very much like sticky toffee pudding, with some feinty notes underneath all that caramel. Quite intense, rich and deep, more on the salty rather than the sweet side.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021

15 Years, The Nectar
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, malted grains, magic marker, vanilla, wheat beer, brown paper, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, wheat beer, sea salt, coconut cream. 
Finish: Medium. Coconut cream, wheat beer, vanilla, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Quite the flavour explosion in the mouth. There’s some barley in this, if I’m any judge, but the grain whisky flavours of wheat, vanilla and coconut are intense and quite forward. Last chance to taste whisky from this long gone distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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.

Agitator Swedish Four Grain Whisky Ex White Port Cask

Agitator Swedish Four Grain Whisky Ex White Port Cask

Collector Series, Caskshare 
Single grain - Västmanland
Amber
58.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, white pepper, rye bread, peppermint malted grains, roast chicken, hints of rosemary. With water, rye bread, petrol exhaust, roast chicken, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Peppermint, rosemary, rye bread, caraway seed, petrol exhaust, white pepper, hints of roast chicken. With water, rye bread, caraway seed, peppermint, hints of chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Farmyard, lemon juice, petrol exhaust, caraway seed. 

Comments: 

Cask 4067. There’s quite a lot of different grains in this whisky, making for a jumble of odd notes that don’t normally go together. But it’s pretty interesting, and I’d like to drink more from this distiller.  

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS G16 Rare Release (Glasgow 6yo 2016/2023)

SMWS G16 Rare Release (Glasgow 6yo 2016/2023)

2023, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber gold 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Shortcrust pastry, aluminium foil, butter, fresh baked bread, sea salt, plums, white grapes, hints of roast chicken. With water, fresh baked bread, damson jam, roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, damson jam, prunes, butter, raisins, hints of ginseng. With water, fresh baked bread, damson jam, prunes, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, sea salt, fresh baked bread, black pepper, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Unusual grain whisky from Glasgow distillery. It’s buttery and redolent with dried plums and damsons. Complex for its young age, and bottled at a decent strength. Pleasing and pleasurable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.