New Zealand Double Wood Small Batch 18yo (TWE Exclusive)

New Zealand Double Wood Small Batch 18yo (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Otago
Red, tinge of amber
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Creamed coconut, vanilla, raisins, raspberry jam, pruneaux, grape soda, cinnamon, hints of orange peel. With water, pear drops, damson jam, grapes soda. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.  
Tasting:  Sweet. Cinnamon, cloves, fresh baked bread, creamed coconut, raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream, hints of grape soda. With water, raisins, candied orange peel, damson jam. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, raisins, cloves, dark chocolate, grape soda, vanilla ice cream.  

Comments: 

Hugely complex dram, much more brandy like than its older sibling, also from TWE. It was quite aromatic, maybe tasting as if it had a little grain whisky in it (although the label says single malt). Excellent whisky to see the new year in with. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

New Zealand 29yo 1988/2017 (TWE Exclusive)

New Zealand 29yo 1988/2017 (TWE Exclusive)

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber
55.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Ink, dried pears, milk chocolate, honey, walnuts, red grapes, hints of marmalade. With water, red grapes, raisins, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, walnuts, milk chocolate, condensed milk, honey, hints of red grapes. With water, sweeter, raisins, honey, vanilla, damson jam. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, milk chocolate, marmalade, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

There's nothing like old whisky, especially old sherry bombs. This one is chocolatey, full of dried fruit and some metallic iron notes. With water, it turns jammy, tasting of autumnal damsons, and becomes wonderfully sweet.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Willowbank 17yo Batch 1

Willowbank 17yo Batch 1

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Otago
Red wine
53.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pear drops, red wine, red grapes, honey, brown paper, hints of green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, astringent, slightly airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Red wine, pear drops, red grapes, cream, brown paper, vanilla, hints of plums. 
Finish: Long. Lemons, brown paper, pear drops, black tea. 

Comments: 

A 17yo bottling, released this year, 2018, from a distillery that closed in 1997! It must have been stored in glass or plastic then filled into a red wine cask. It's clearly been in there for a long time, as this is basically red wine at whisky strength. It's intense and fruity, huge pear drop and grape notes. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Dunedin Doublewood 15 yo

Dunedin Doublewood 15 yo

Official bottling
Single blend - Otago
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, raisins, coffee, dark chocolate, dried strawberries, hints of cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thick, sticky, oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, cream, dried strawberries, chocolate, red grapes, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Cream, mint, coffee, red grapes. 

Comments: 

Willowbank whisky! Surprisingly salty, with a nice unctuous mouthfeel. Very sweet nevertheless, but also complex and fragrant. Nice minty notes on the nose and the finish. Very enjoyable indeed. Good whisky from a closed distillery.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

New Zealand Doublewood 10 yo

New Zealand Doublewood 10 yo

Official bottling
Single blend - Otago
Dark amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sugar cane, figs, red grapes, condensed milk, vanilla, oak. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loose, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, red grapes, condensed milk, prunes, sugar cane, hints of coconut candy. 
Finish: Medium. Condensed milk, prunes, sugar cane, coconut candy, hints of bananas. 

Comments: 

New Zealand is remote enough such that the grain whisky in the blend needs to come from the same distillery! This one has been aged in new American oak casks then a French red wine cask. It may have been overdiluted, as it is pretty watery on the tongue. The depth of flavour is quite reasonably though, and very sweet. Lots of sugar cane and condensed milk, along with the jammy fruit notes one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

New Zealand 19 yo 1993/2013

New Zealand 19 yo 1993/2013

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Golden
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, malted grains, cola nuts, plums, blackcurrants, hints of prunes. With water, sweeter, orange peel, prunes, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, slightly sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Leather, blackcurrants, prunes, soy sauce, white grapes, hints of chillies. With water, sweeter, honey, prunes, hints of lavender. 
Finish: Long. Chillies, leather, white grapes, vanilla, hints of ginseng. 

Comments: 

Malt from the now defunct Willowbank distillery in Dunedin, New Zealand. It's fragrant, slightly salty neat, but with water transforms into honeyed, jammy nectar. It's quite a transformation. Very good whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.