Bowmore 22yo 2004/2026 (bottled for Bar Lotus)

Bowmore 22yo 2004/2026 (bottled for Bar Lotus)

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islay
Golden
51% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, nori, soot, malted grains, golden syrup, sea salt, hints of cough syrup. With water, lemon zest, smoke, malted grains, hints of nori. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, thickens. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Golden syrup, nori, orange peel, lemon zest, smoke, peat, sea salt, hints of cough syrup, hints of toast. With water, smoke, lemon zest, orange peel, golden syrup, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Short. Golden syrup, orange peel, sea salt, smoke, hints of nori. 

Comments: 

A very decent Bowmore, sweet and smoky, with plenty of salinity to balance it. Great pick for this bar, one of the best in London. Plenty of smokiness too, once water is added.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Lindores Abbey 5yo 2021/2026

Lindores Abbey 5yo 2021/2026

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red 
55.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Prunes, strawberries, raspberries, raisins, dunnage, leather, red grapes, hints of cloves. With water, malted grains, raisins, strawberries, hints of dunnage. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, raspberries, strawberries, leather, photocopy paper, white pepper, cloves. With water, raisins, strawberries, malted grains, cloves. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, red grapes, leather, raspberries. 

Comments: 

Sherry cask of course, rather sweet and malty despite all that the raisin and dried fruit characteristics are prominent, with some feinty notes too. With water, it turns spicy and sweet again.

Verdict:

I like this.

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. 

Thompson Brothers Lowries Reserve

Thompson Brothers Lowries Reserve

Thompson Bros
Blend
Copper gold
45.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, molasses, vanilla, tablet, petrol exhaust, hints of milk chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, static, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Molasses, tablet, orange peel, raisins, icing sugar, leather, hints of milk chocolate. 
Finish: Medium. Icing sugar, leather, orange peel, raisins, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Sweet blend, with hints of bitterness that never really quite come to pass. There are some whispers of more industrial whisky but they’re drowned in orange peel and icing sugar.

Verdict:

I like this.

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Benriach 17yo 2007/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Pale gold 
47.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, vanilla, sourdough bread, yoghurt, lemon zest, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vanilla, sourdough bread, peaches, malted grains, molasses, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, molasses, Demerara sugar, peaches, hints of sourdough bread. 

Comments: 

Fruity and very bready, lots of slightly tart notes that are also reminiscent of yoghurt. There’s some caramelly, sugary sweetness in the finish but it’s almost the absence of tartness rather than a proper sweet note.

Verdict:

I like this.

Teithmill 10yo 2014/2024

Teithmill 10yo 2014/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Yellow gold
54.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, yoghurt, malted grains, white pepper, apricot jam, vanilla sponge, honey. With water, lemon zest, aluminium foil, vanilla sponge, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Yoghurt, lemon zest, malted grains, magic marker, sea salt, white grapes, hints of tomatoes. With water, lemon zest, aluminium foil, fresh baked bread. 
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, malted grains, white pepper, ginseng, hints of yoghurt. 

Comments: 

A young, not very sweet Deanston, with a rather lactic tone. There’s some spiciness, more than there is fruit. Water brings out something peppery and metallic. A nice stripped back bourbon cask.

Verdict:

I like this.

Dalrymple 13yo 2011/2024

Dalrymple 13yo 2011/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark amber
55.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, honey, malted grains, strawberry jam, white pepper, hay, raisins. With water, honey, raisins, strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Vanilla, malted grains, honey, hay, white pepper, strawberry jam, pandan, papayas. With water, honey, raisins, strawberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Honey, malted grains, pandan, hay. 

Comments: 

Herbal and sweet, lots of honey and grassy notes. Water brings out more sweet notes including an intensely jammy note. This is teaspooned Ailsa Bay.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024

Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, hints of pink
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, caramel, malted grains, white chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, raisins, ice cream soda. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, creamy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Orange peel, vanilla, ice cream soda, white chocolate, white pepper, black tea. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, ice cream soda. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, malted grains, white pepper, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fruity, quite luscious, with plenty of sweet vanilla-laden things. Water opens up a grassiness, with plenty of maltiness too. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blair Athol 8yo 2015/2024

Blair Athol 8yo 2015/2024

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, vanilla custard, cherries, malted grains, cocoa nibs, hints of marmalade. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, cocoa nibs, vanilla custard, malted grains, butterscotch, orange peel, hints of gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, raisins, marmalade, vanilla custard. 

Comments: 

Sweet and vanilla laden, lots of chocolate as well. Decent fruity finish too, lots of jammy notes. It’s very drinkable, but is probably at the lower end of the Thompson brothers’ stuff that I’ve tried.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 27yo 1995/2022

Glenburgie 27yo 1995/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
51.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, lemon sweets, sage, white pepper, white grapes, saffron, limes. With water, limes, vitamin C tablets, saffron, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, white grapes, gooseberries, damson jam, limes, saffron, malted grains, white pepper, sandalwood. With water, white pepper, white grapes, sandalwood, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, lemon sweets, barley sugar, sandalwood, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Spicy, layered, and quite herbal. Lemon sweets abound, and it turns jammy after a little while. Water brings out even more spice, this time woody and slightly bitter.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

A Ross-shire Distillery 12yo 2011/2023

A Ross-shire Distillery 12yo 2011/2023

Thompson Brothers 
Single malt - North Highlands
Sunshine yellow 
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: White grapes, apricots, peaches, vanilla, hoppy beer, honey, hints of sultanas. With water, vanilla, honey, peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, static, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apricots, peaches, hoppy beer, malted grains, vanilla, cotton candy, hints of bubble gum. With water, malted grains, apricots, hoppy beer, sultanas. 
Finish: Medium. Bubble gum, malted grains, cotton candy, apricots. 

Comments: 

Lots of stone fruit notes. It’s a malty giant, but also floral with other slightly chemical esters. As a rule I don’t like bubble gum flavours in my whisky, but here it’s a nice little accent on the flavour profile.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glenlivet 24yo 1998/2023

Glenlivet 24yo 1998/2023

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Buttercups 
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, hoppy beer, rhubarb and custard sweets, apple skins, brass polish, sandalwood, honey. With water, honey, apple juice, lemon zest, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Apple skins, apple juice, hoppy beer, malted grains, molasses, butterscotch, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. With water, malted grains, walnut skins, apple juice, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Apple skins, apple juice, honey, rhubarb and custard sweets, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Oof. This is rather lovely, hugely complex, lots of apples and sweet sour fruit, but also feinty and slightly sulphurous. It’s well balanced but also layered. Very interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Speyside Single Malt (Macallan) 24yo 1995/2020

Speyside Single Malt (Macallan) 24yo 1995/2020

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pencil lead, brass polish, cherries, orange peel, camphor, cinnamon, strawberry laces. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, milk chocolate, cherries, pencil lead, malted grains, strawberry laces, hints of gooseberries. 
Finish: Medium body. Milk chocolate, malted grains, cherries, black tea, strawberry laces. 

Comments: 

I don’t think very much of the official Macallans, at least nothing that warrants their mighty reputation. However, every so often I run into a whisky that confirms it. This is one of them. Slightly flinty with lots of sweet chocolate and fruit, several layers of complexity make it utterly delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Blended Malt 12yo 2009/2021

Blended Malt 12yo 2009/2021

Thompson Brothers
Blended malt
Amber red
55.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, germolene, peat, tarry rope, strawberry jam, roast pork, driftwood smoke. With water, sandalwood, germolene, leather, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, oily, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Orange peel, peanuts, strawberry jam, cloves, driftwood smoke, tarry rope, leather, germolene. With water, orange peel, raisins, black tea, liquorice, driftwood smoke. 
Finish: Long. Peanuts, peat, leather, germolene, orange peel. 

Comments: 

A blend with a lot of Lagavulin and a lot of Caol Ila, aged in a sherry cask. It’s sweet, quite medicinal, with classic salty smoke (classic for Laga, at least). It’s not as severe as I thought it would be, it’s even a little nutty and sweet.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

TB/BSW Aged Over 6yo

TB/BSW Aged Over 6yo

Thompson Brothers

Blended malt

Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, damson jam, applesauce, liquorice, cinnamon, raisins, gingerbread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, menthol, raisins, vanilla, honey, cough mixture, gingerbread. 
Finish: Long. Honey, raisins, black tea, liquorice, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Great blend - lots of mentholated raisins and liquorice tea! Well balanced and complex, and available at a good strength too. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Moray 15yo 2007/2023

Glen Moray 15yo 2007/2023

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Copper gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, white grapes, honey, clay dust, sandalwood, kiwifruit. With water, honey, toast, green tea, pear drops. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, warm, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. White grapes, pear drops, apple juice, honey, cinnamon, sandalwood, toast, hints of malted grains. With water, toast, green tea, kiwifruit, hints of autumn leaves. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, malted grains, apple juice, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Excellent pear drop notes, very estery whisky. Lots of fruit and some earthiness underpinning it all. Opens up beautifully with water, revealing a smoky, toasty note. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SRV05 8yo Blended Malt

SRV05 Blended Malt 8yo

Thompson Brothers
Blend
Pale green
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, lemon juice, green apples, cooked rice, hints of strawberry jam, hints of wheat beer. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Leather, peat, green apples, vanilla, smoke, golden syrup, photocopy paper, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Long. Photocopy paper, raisins, peat, leather, hints of lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Tart and fermented, with lots of sweet feinty notes on the tongue. Decent blend, with a nice malty nose. It’s a higher ABV too, which lets it keep some complexity. Good stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 ex-Sherry PWWT Private Cask

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 ex-Sherry PWWT Private Cask

Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Dark amber 
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, rum and raisin ice cream, honey, orange peel, camphor, cloves, cream. With water, cream, rum and raisin ice cream, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, turns airy, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, rum and raisin ice cream, honey, dark chocolate, camphor, cocoa nibs, black tea. With water, cream, honey, raisins, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, camphor. 

Comments: 

Cask 27A. A private cask for Phil and Simon Thompson, of which a bottle was kindly shared for a Strathearn tasting. It’s glorious - sweet and raisiny, like a fine PX sherry. It’s also heavy, almost chewy on the tongue. Delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 Spirited Angels Virgin French Oak Cask

Strathearn 9yo 2013/2023 Spirited Angels Virgin French Oak Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber gold
53.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, malted grains, barley sugar, orange peel, white pepper, honey, raisins. With water, cherries, honey, barley sugar, raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, airy, loosens, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, honey, raisins, bananas, chocolate, vanilla, white pepper, cinnamon. With water, malted grains, bananas, white pepper, barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Chocolate, vanilla, honey, raisins, cherries. 

Comments: 

Cask 010. Malty and sweet, lots of fruit. I’d expected this to taste like bourbon - which it did, a little - but the banana note in bourbon was less evident, and this was more spicy. Nice stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2023 Spirited Angels Sherry Cask

Strathearn 8yo 2014/2023 Spirited Angels Sherry Cask

A Seven Cask Series, Thompson Bros 
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cooked rice, strawberry jam, cloves, cinnamon, leather, dark chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, vanilla, marshmallows. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cooked rice, dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, raisins, black tea, hints of lychees. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, lychees, marshmallows. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, leather, cocoa nibs, lychees. 

Comments: 

Cask 049. Very impressive sherried dram - chocolatey, bitter and complex. There’s also a very light fruity note that reminds me of lychees. Delicious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.