Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Commemorative Edition for Dr Jim Swan (Cotswolds x Milk & Honey)

Cotswolds distillery
Vatted malt
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, white grapes, parchment paper, white pepper, malted grains, orange peel, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, orange peel, white grapes, winter melons, honey, white pepper, hints of golden syrup. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, white pepper, golden syrup. 

Comments: 

A vatting of Cotswolds and Milk & Honey distillate. Malty, fruity but with a paperiness that’s especially apparent on the nose. The whiskies do complement each other though.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Glover 6yo

The Glover 6yo

Adelphi
Vatted malt
Pale orange
57.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, white grapes, pomeloes, malted grains, pencil lead, vanilla, lemon zest. With water, pencil lead, peaches, sandalwood. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Pomeloes, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, green tea, hints of pencil lead. With water, vanilla, malted grains, white pepper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, wet stones, vanilla, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Deliciously tangy and fruity, but with plenty of feinty minerally notes. There’s tannins here too, herbal green tea that takes over after a few seconds. A great meeting of distillates, this blending of Chichibu and Ardnamurchan.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mars The Y.A. #2

Mars The Y.A. #2

Yakushima Aging, Mars
Vatted malt
Amber
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, sea salt, malted grains, honey, leather, smoke, hints of germolene. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Sea salt, malted grains, lemon zest, smoke, green tea, rubber bands, hints of yoghurt. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, honey, orange peel, brown sugar. 

Comments: 

A combination of Shinshu and Tsunuki malt. It’s more peated than I expected, and sour as well as savoury. Some sulphur appears as well. Otherwise it’s a good, malty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

The Sandebud 6yo

The Sandebud 6yo

Adelphi

 Vatted malt - Multi-country

Amber 

58.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, germolene, orange peel, salt caramel, leather, cedar, hints of smoke. With water, orange peel, toast, roast pork, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, warm, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, peat, orange peel, germolene, nutmeg, sea salt, cinnamon, cedar, smoke. With water, toast, germolene, orange peel, photocopy paper. 
Finish: Long. Germolene, photocopy paper, smoke, leather, peat. 

Comments: 

A blend of Ardnamurchan and High Coast. Meaty, smoky, woody and fruity, it’s a good melding of complex malts with personality. Water brings out some spicy and feinty notes that complement the smokiness. Quite delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this.

KilchArd Blended Malt

KilchArd Blended Malt

Kilchoman / Ardnamurchan 
Vatted malt 
Dark gold
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, leather, sugared almonds, red grapes, sea salt, oolong tea, honey, smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sugared almonds, smoke, honey, peat, sea salt, dates, fresh baked bread, hints of goji berries. 
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, dates, orange peel, goji berries. 

Comments: 

A blend of bourbon barrel Kilchoman and PX hoggy Ardnamurchan. It’s slightly off the wall but very good indeed, the smoky saline dried fruit notes of Kilchoman work with the citrus honey of Ardnamurchan. A very highly rated whisky for me.  

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Compass Box Magic Cask 2020

Compass Box Magic Cask 2020

Compass Box 

Vatted malt
White wine
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: White wine, wet stones, white grapes, winter melon, sultanas, lemon zest, hints of pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, cool, tingly.  
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, yoghurt, white wine, white grapes, pears, vanilla sponge. 
Finish: Medium. Fresh baked bread, sultanas, lemon zest, hints of cream. 

Comments: 

92% Imperial, and 8% Aberlour, according to the bottle notes. There’s certainly a lot of Imperial in this, lots of fruit and cream. It was rather like a very high proof white wine, quite refreshing. I wonder what this would be like diluted to wine strength, around 15-17%, it would probably hold up against good wines. Unfortunately I did not have enough to try it. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Sheep Dip Vatted Whisky

Sheep Dip Vatted Whisky

Official bottling
Vatted malt
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, grated coconut, yoghurt, malted grains, mint, hints of marzipan. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, slightly astringent, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon juice, malted grains, ginseng, yoghurt, hints of sarsaparilla. 
Finish: Medium. Mint, lemon juice, orange peel, hints of ginseng. 

Comments: 

This is not as fragrant and gentle as its sibling. Instead, it's earthy, slightly bitter, with lots of creamy and sour notes. Not unpleasant, but I think I prefer the Pig's Nose.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

Ichiro's Malt
Vatted malt
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, cotton sheets, salt caramel, white wine, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens slightly, smooth. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cotton sheets, cardamom, pears, honey, dried cranberries. 
Finish: Short. Black pepper, pears, red grapes, raspberries. 

Comments: 

A vatting of young Chichibu with old Hanyu. No idea how old the Hanyu is, perhaps it's more than 20 years old. In any case, the whisky is well balanced, sweet salty on the nose, but sweet and fruity on the tongue. Short spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ghosted Reserve 26 yo

Ghosted Reserve 26 yo

Rare Cask Reserves, William Grant and Sons
Vatted malt - Inverleven, Ladyburn
Pale green
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, white grapes, dark chocolate, brass polish, vanilla, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, airy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour . White grapes, fresh cut grass, dark chocolate, green tea, almonds, hints of rhubarb and custard. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, white grapes, almonds, green tea, hints of teak wood. 

Comments: 

A vatting of 26 yo Inverleven and 57 yo Ladyburn. I think it's spent a bit too long in the cask. Subtle flavours, slightly tart, a lot of grape and wood. But I was in the mood for big bold whisky, and somehow this didn't do it for me at all. Good stuff, but not the right night.

Verdict:

I like this.

Big Peat

Big Peat

Douglas Laing
Single malt - Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore, Port Ellen
Dull gold
46% ABV
Mini

Nose: Leather, lemons, smoked haddock, peat, persimmons, new plastic, honey, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, slippery, smoot.
Tasting: Salty sour. Lemons, chocolate, cherries, persimmons, leather, smoke, peat, honey, molasses, hints of soy sauce.
Finish: Long. Molasses, chocolate, smoke, peat, new plastic.

Comments:

Douglas Laing has produced a vatting of Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen, calling it Big Peat. The result isn't as smoky or harsh as one might think. There's a lot of fruit and sweet flavours, and the chocolatey Ardbeg is very obvious. I can also identify hints of the Caol Ila in the taste - lemons, and maybe some soy sauce. The rest, while hard to pin down, is still enjoyable (is the smoked haddock on the nose really the Port Ellen)?

Verdict:

I like this.

Compass Box Lady Luck

Compass Box Lady Luck

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila Imperial
Pale orange gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tobacco, leather, soy sauce, raisins, pears, butter, smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, ethereal.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Melted butter, leather, soy sauce, pears, butterscotch, smoke, hints of peat.
Finish: Pears, butter, smoke, leather.

Comments:

A limited bottling, named Lady Luck after the providential way in which it was discovered. 2 old Caol Ilas (1980, 1984) vatted with a 1995 Imperial. It's smoky, buttery, sweet and salty, yet light, loose and ethereal. Or more precisely, unreal - I didn't think whisky this light could pack such a flavourful impact.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Compass Box Peat Monster Reserve

Compass Box Peat Monster Reserve

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Laphroaig, Ardmore
Pale green
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, leather, tobacco leaf, chocolate, soy sauce. With water, chocolate, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, smooth, volatile.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Smoke, peat, leather, walnuts, chocolate, soy sauce. With water, saltier, hints of coffee.
Finish: Long. White wines, smoke, peat, walnut skins.

Comments:

Deliciously like Ardbeg. They sell this in massive bottles greater than 1 litre - I can see why. Excellent peaty whisky, with the Ardmore tempering a big wodge of smoke and peat.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Compass Box Flaming Heart

Compass Box Flaming Heart

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Clynelish, Linkwood
Pale copper
48.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, soy sauce, tobacco leaf, raisins, vanilla, smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Vanilla, tobacco, raisins, smoke, peat, soy sauce.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, peat, vanilla, tobacco.

Comments:

Big and bold. This is the second edition of Flaming Heart, a vatting of Caol Ila, Clynelish and Linkwood. Talk about a spectrum of hard to soft whiskies! The flavours are very distinct, and don't detract from each other, and it's perfectly possible to discern all three components. Yet the whole works very well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Compass Box Spice Tree (reissue)

Compass Box Spice Tree (reissue)

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - mostly Clynelish
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, orange peel, chillies, cloves, cinnamon, plums, hints of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loose, slightly astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Chillies, orange peel, plums, cloves, cinnamon.
Finish: Long. Chillies, orange peel, cinnamon.

Comments:

In John Glaser's own words, this is "mostly Clynelish". It's the new, legal Spice Tree, matured in barrels with toasted French oak heads. Extremely innovative! It tastes different of course, with the spicy fragrance present in the old Spice Tree tempered by slightly bitter cinnamon bark. Still tasty, but I think I liked the older one best.

Verdict:

I like this.

Compass Box Spice Tree (original)

Compass Box Spice Tree (original)

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Teaninich, Dailuaine, Clynelish, Longmorn
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butter, butterscotch, oak, toast, cloves, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, loosens, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Chillies, cloves, butterscotch, oak, orange peel, hints of honeydew melon.
Finish: Long. Orange peel, lemons, butter, honeydew melon.

Comments:

This is the famous illegal Spice Tree - illegal because it was matured in oak barrels containing inner staves made of French oak, imparting an interesting spicy, clovey flavour. I feel really privileged to be able to try this. It's a vatting of fruity, light malts, infused with that great spicy, fragrant flavour.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Compass Box Magic Cask 2006

Compass Box Magic Cask 2006 Vatted malt, Compass Box Vatted malt - Linkwood, Clynelish Amber rose 46% ABV Dram Nose: Coconut, molasses, butter, strawberries, raisins, cherries. With water, sweeter, more strawberries. Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, astringent. Tasting: Sweet. Oranges, molasses, strawberries, raisins, cherries, red wine. With water, more red wine, quite tannic. Finish: Long. Oranges, strawberries, raisins, cherries. Comments: A special bottling for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. It's a mixture of 16 yo Linkwood aged for an additional year in a Madeira cask, and 14 yo Clynelish. Very winey and fruity, nice slippery thick body. Water opens it up, makes it taste sweeter, and more like the Madeira it contains. Verdict: I like this.

Compass Box Eleuthera

Compass Box Eleuthera

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Caol Ila, Clynelish
Pale green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, lemons, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, volatile, watery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, soy sauce, leather, pears, raisins, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Smoke, peat, walnut skins, raisins.

Comments:

This is the 1st release of Eleuthera. It's a mixture of 20% Caol Ila and 80% Clynelish, and it's beautiful. There is a flinty, minerally hard heart, overlaid by the great Caol Ila flavours of soy sauce, peat and smoke, and then layered over with lots of lemony fruit. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Ardbeg Serendipity

Ardbeg Serendipity

Glenmorangie plc
Vatted malt - Ardbeg, Glen Moray
White wine
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, oranges, apples, sherry, pears, lemons, hints of lemon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, static, a little watery around the edges.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peanut skins, spiced apple, tonic water, hints of peat.
Finish: Long. Butter, clotted cream, smoke.

Comments:

Apparently the result of a fortuitous accident. Workers dumped a quantity of old (20-30 yo)Ardbeg into a vat already containing some Glen Moray 12 yo. Someone tasted the result (20% Glen Moray, 80% Ardbeg) and here we are. A good combination of smoke and sweet stuff. I particularly love the buttery, creamy finish - it lasts for ages.

Verdict:

I like this a lot!

Compass Box Oak Cross

Compass Box Oak Cross

Vatted malt, Compass Box
Vatted malt - Dailuane, Teaninich, Clynelish
Straw
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, cream, butter, peanuts, oak spice.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, very smooth, slightly watery.
Tasting: Sweet. Barley, beer, oak spice, heather honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, apples.
Finish: Short. Intense toast, marmalade.

Comments:

The result of an oak-aging experiment conducted by Compass Box. It's a blend of whiskies aged in French sessile oak and American white oak. The newly blended spirit was then aged further in American oak barrels with French sessile oak barrel tops. Loads of flavours - it tastes a little that some Talisker might have sneaked in...

Verdict:

I like this.

Monkey Shoulder

Monkey Shoulder

William Grant & Sons
Vatted malt - Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Kininvie
Amber gold
40% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Oak and sherry. Pear beer, plum brandy, oranges and cinnamon. Buttery notes underneath.
Mouthfeel: Medium body. Watery around the edges.
Taste: Tangy at the edges. Slightly salty. Coconut, raspberries, heather honey, bananas. Citrus notes.
Finish: Long. Lemons and oranges. Turns iodine and medicinal at the end.

Comments:

Vatted from Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie. The orange is the Balvenie, pear beer the Glenfiddich. Maybe the Kininvie is the plums (or bananas?). Anyhow, it's quite funny that monkeys would like to drink banana flavoured whisky (actually, it's named after a condition that distillery workers used to get after turning the malted barley one time too many). Pretty tasty, although the whisky is meant for making cocktails...

Verdict:

I like this.