DYC 15yo

DYC 15yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Castile and León
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, tyre rubber, malted grains, pencil erasers, fresh cut grass, malted grains, white pepper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, apple juice, pencil erasers, malted grains, honey, white pepper, nutmeg, hints of fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Honey, raisins, apple juice, lemon zest, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Rather sulphurous and feinty, but there’s plenty of spicy notes underneath. It builds to a long, malty finish. It’s an interesting whisky, and different (not necessarily worse) to Scotch.

Verdict:

I like this.

Haran 18yo

Haran 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Pais Vasco
Bright gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, camphor, raisins, fresh cut grass, roast pork, jasmine, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Camphor, fresh cut grass, leather, star anise, cinnamon, raisins, molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, raisins, leather, camphor, cloves. 

Comments: 

Another Spanish whisky. Quite floral, but compared to the younger expression, it’s more rounded and robust. Some herbal notes appear alongside all that flowery spice. Quite different, and I shall continue to explore.

Verdict:

I like this.

Haran 12yo Port Cask Finish

Haran 12yo Port Cask Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Pais Vasco
Golden
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tangerines, makrut lime leaf, sandalwood, leather, violets, fresh cut grass, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, lemongrass, violets, fresh cut grass, lemon verbena, tangerines, pears, hints of vanilla. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, vanilla, lemon verbena, violets. 

Comments: 

Herbal and tangy, this Basque whisky is unique in my experience. It reminds me of some quirky old Islays, where a huge floral note appears. But it’s tempered by more herbal and grassy flavours, almost like a good tequila. It’s not soapy at all either, so quite pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.