Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

Sestante
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, honey, cinnamon, malted grains, white pepper, hints of green pepper, hints of camphor. With water, honeydew melons, fresh cut grass, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, white pepper, fresh cut grass, honey, lemon zest, hints of camphor. With water, magic marker, camphor, leather, honey, honeydew melons. 
Finish: Medium. White pepper, malted grains, honey, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Fruity and complex, lots of melon and honey notes. Water brings out some grassiness and citrus, and eventually some herbal bitterness. This is perfectly layered and constructed, an alluring, mouth watering whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balvenie 29yo 1994+1996

Balvenie “Blended Malt Whisky” 29yo 1994+1996

Decadent Drinks
Teaspooned malt - Speyside 
Amber
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Beeswax, cola nuts, honeycomb, malted grains, honey, foam shrimp, gooseberries. With water, honey, white pepper, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, beeswax, honeycomb, gooseberries, nectarines, greengages, lemon zest. With water, nectarines, honey, beeswax. 
Finish: Long. Honey, greengages, sandalwood, nectarines. 

Comments: 

Very waxy, plenty of peach. If you’d asked me to taste blind I’d have said this was Clynelish and not Balvenie. But that’s what it is, and there’s some notes of greengageS that hint a little bit at its origins.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Braeval 16yo 2010

Braeval 16yo 2010

Little Brown Dog Spirits
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, peaches, honey, cloves, caramel, hints of carrot cake. With water, honey, peaches, malted grains. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Lemon zest, orange peel, honey, peaches, malted grains, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. With water, honey, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, cinnamon, peaches, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Malty and sweet Braeval, with plenty of peach and nectarine notes. Quite a spicy whisky, and water brings out more orange and cinnamon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, white chocolate, foam shrimp, malted grains, white pepper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass. With water, lemon zest, nectarines, white pepper, fresh cut grass. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, nectarines, clementines, malted grains, honey, white pepper, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, foam shrimp, clementines. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy and peppery, with a thick heavy body that sits on the tongue. Water brings out some malty sweetness, some additional grassiness to cut the ought h citrus.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Knockando 32yo 1986/2019 Casks of Distinction

Knockando 32yo 1986/2019 Casks of Distinction

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
47.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, prunes, honey, red grapes, cream, weetabix, malted grains, hints of hibiscus. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, thickens, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet. Weetabix, black pepper, prunes, red grapes, raisins, honey, dried apricots, dried blueberries, hints of hibiscus. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, weetabix, cream, prunes, dried apricots. 

Comments: 

Cask 394. A very sophisticated dram, very classic aged whisky. Layered and complex with loads of black pepper and dried fruit. There’s also a very prominent cereal note with a mouth watering mouth feel.  Great whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Whisky Galore Macallan 1989

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, cream, dark chocolate, hints of oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slippery, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, leather, cream, photocopy paper, black pepper, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Short. Cream, prunes, raisins, dark chocolate, hints of photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Slightly lower strength, but still quite delightful. Again, very classic Macallan, lots of leather and dark chocolate and raisins to make me enjoy whisky from this distillery again.

Verdict:

I like this.

Piran Strange 28yo Macallan Private Cask Bottling

Piran Strange 28yo Macallan Private Cask Bottling

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
47.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cocoa nibs, carrot cake, pomeloes, coffee, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, chalky, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Coffee, raisins, honey, orange peel, vanilla, carrot cake, cocoa nibs. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, vanilla, carrot cake, dark chocolate, pomeloes. 

Comments: 

Cask 6916. A very good whisky, lots of the sweetness that characterises old Macallan, together with a fudgy, nutmeggy flavour that I identify as carrot cake. Excellent whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Allt-a-Bhainne 17yo 2008/2025

Allt-a-Bhainne 17yo 2008/2025

Vintage Sherry Reserve, Milroys of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Amber copper red
62.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, strawberry jam, clay dust, black tea, malted grains, black pepper, orange peel. With water, raisins, cola nuts, black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, raisins, orange peel, malted grains. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, cola nuts. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, shortcrust pastry, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Cask 80900249. Sweet and laden with heaps of dried fruit, and a tangy cola taste. It’s also a little dusty, something that is reminiscent of old style sherried whiskies. With water brings out a tinge of black pepper.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Glenlossie 8yo 2017/2026

Octave, Duncan Taylor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, white chocolate, elderflower, malted grains, magic marker, honey, vanilla. With water, cream, magic marker, pears, surgical spirit. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White chocolate, magic marker, pears, elderflower, cream, honey, hints of malted grains. With water, cream, pears, elderflower, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, orange peel, burnt sugar, elderflower. 

Comments: 

Floral and caramelly, and outstanding dram. Lots of spirity, feinty notes appear once water is added. But there’s an intrinsic sweetness and richness to this, quite like white chocolate.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenfarclas 12yo 100 Proof Reserve (selected for Milroys of Soho)

Glenfarclas 12yo 100 Proof Reserve (selected for Milroys of Soho)

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cream, cinnamon, dunnage, white pepper, marzipan, orange peel, hints of dark chocolate. With water, black tea, orange peel, dark chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, brown sugar, clay dust, dunnage, black tea, cloves, hints of orange peel. With water, black tea, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, dark chocolate, orange peel, dunnage. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, perfectly Glenfarclas and at cask strength too. Lots of spice and sweet citrus and dried fruit notes. Plenty of dark chocolate too. Excellent 12yo whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Balmenach 26yo 1999/2025

Balmenach 26yo 1999/2025

Mystery Malt Series 5, Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green gold 
46.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, coffee, lemon zest, lime juice, burnt sugar, yoghurt, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, barley sugar, lime juice, grapefruit, honey, yoghurt, hints of bananas, hints of prunes. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sherbet, lemon zest, lime juice, honey, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

Citrusy yet bitter, with a crisp, caramelly edge. It’s almost burnt caramel, the sort you scrape off the bottom of the pan. Quite a complex dram with a hint of lactic.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenglassaugh 13yo 2011/2024

Glenglassaugh 13yo 2011/2024

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber red
52.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, orange peel, white pepper, cloves, raspberries, hints of smoke, hints of wet stones. With water, orange peel, raspberries, wet stones, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Orange peel, cashew nuts, white pepper, smoke, cloves, malted grains, raspberries, hints of sea salt. With water, cashew nuts, raisins, orange peel, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Cream, wet stones, orange peel, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Cask 11. Sweetly sherried, lots of nutty fruity notes, with some fragrant smoke. There’s some flintiness especially on the finish, adding to what is already an amazingly complex whisky. Utterly delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Speyburn 15yo 2009

Speyburn 15yo 2009

Highland Laird, Bartels Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, butter, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, vanilla, dried pears, hints of white chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Pencil lead, dried pears, shortcrust pastry, lemon zest, wet stones, pears, hints of nectarines. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, pencil lead, wet stones, shortcrust pastry, hints of driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 0700077. Very buttery and vanilla laden, with hints of white chocolate, on the nose. On the tongue it chafes, showing some minerality and more pears. Very enjoyable, if slightly thin.

Verdict:

I like this.

Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026

Linkwood 13yo 2013/2026

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold 
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried apples, pears, shortcrust pastry, dried apricots, icing sugar, foam shrimp, hints of starfruit, hints of cinnamon. With water, lemon zest, shortcrust pastry, sea salt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, volatile. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Dried apples, malted grains, lemon zest, dried apricots, shortcrust pastry, icing sugar, hints of cream. With water, vanilla, malted grains, dried apricots. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, white grapes, dried apricots, dried apples. 

Comments: 

Cask 300371, 300372. Very fruity whisky, mainly stone fruit, apples and pears. Lots of estery notes. With water it turns buttery and pastry-like. Very good whisky indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Knockando 13yo 1974/1987

Knockando 13yo 1974/1987

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, raisins, orange peel, lohan fruit, nutmeg, cloves, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, leather, lohan fruit, cloves, vanilla sponge, orange peel, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, lohan fruit, vanilla sponge, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Quite herbal, lots of raisiny dried fruit flavours with plenty of vanilla. No water, it’s perfectly drinkable as is. The finish is surprisingly peppery and fragrant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Longmorn 30yo

Longmorn 30yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red 
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, golden syrup, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, clotted cream, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Clotted cream, raisins, cloves, nutmeg, golden syrup, butter, barley sugar, wet stones, hints of molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, raisins, hints of molasses. 

Comments: 

A gentle, sweet, syrupy dram. The bitterness is that of molasses and slightly burnt caramel, but the predominant notes are creamy golden syrup, and buttery barley sugar. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Caperdonich 13yo 1968

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, raisins, orange peel, dried pineapples, black pepper, honey, sandalwood, hints of lohan fruit. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dried pineapples, dried apples, cloves, honey, black pepper, hints of lohan fruit, hints of farmyard. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, honey, dried pineapples, raisins, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Minerally, with a bitter herbal edge, very prominent on the tongue. But under that there is a classic dried pineapple note, which I’ve found in a number of Caperdonich. There’s a bit of farmyardy tang at the end.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Grant 1948

Glen Grant 1948

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside 
Pale amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, lohan fruit, leather, sandalwood, roast chicken, hints of white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, sandalwood, white pepper, black pepper, cumin, roast chicken, lohan fruit, smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, leather, black pepper, orange peel, lohan fruit. 

Comments: 

Bitter sweet, with the bitter note being quite herbal, almost savoury. Not the most complex whisky, but very well layered with distinct flavours. It builds to a long, very smoky finish. It was a privilege to try this.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Grant 5yo 1974 (OB for Italy)

Glen Grant 5yo 1974 (OB for Italy)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Very pale yellow
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, lemon zest, sandalwood, sea salt, malted grains, white grapes, hints of yeast extract. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Salty sour. Lemon zest, yeast extract, roast chicken, sea salt, starfruit, pears, white pepper, hints of gunpowder. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, sea salt, white pepper, malted grains, hints of roast chicken. 

Comments: 

Gentle and light, but with a citrusy, savoury edge. There’s a roast chicken note which starts to take over on the tongue, and et the very end, something flinty, minerally and sulphurous. Superb old whisky

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tomatin 13yo 2010/2023

Tomatin 13yo 2010/2023

Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Bronze gold 
50.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, elderflower, wet stones, honey, sea salt, fresh baked bread, hints of coffee. With water, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, leather, lemon sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Fresh baked bread, honey, elderflower, nectarines, coffee, leather, hints of lemon sweets. With water, fresh baked bread, lemon sweets, elderflower, coffee. 
Finish: Long. Coffee, grapefruit, nectarines, leather. 

Comments: 

Floral and rich, but also minerally. Lots of cereal notes underneath, and water brings out more floral notes with a robust bitterness. Rather good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.