Bimber Port Cask (bottled for Nickolls & Perks)
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Amber red
58.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Coconut cream, red grapes, raisins, chocolate, vanilla custard, buttered toast, hints of peanuts. With water, coconut cream, raisins, buttered toast.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, strawberries, vanilla, orange peel, buttered toast, malted grains, milk powder, hints of cloves. With water, black tea, buttered toast, strawberries, milk chocolate.
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange peel, buttered toast, cinnamon, cloves.
Comments:
Cask 40. Biscuity and buttery, lots of delicious winey flavours. The ABV is a little bit in your face for such a young whisky. Lots of nutty notes on the nose that fade on the tongue.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Daftmill 15yo 2007/2022 (Nickolls & Perks Exclusive)
Daftmill 15yo 2007/2022 (Nickolls & Perks Exclusive)
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Golden
58.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, honeysuckle, lemon zest, cloves, cinnamon, apple juice, hints of shortcrust pastry. With water, vanilla, cloves, peaches, apple juice.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, honeysuckle, apple juice, cider vinegar, vanilla, black tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. With water, malted grains, stale beer, cloves, honeysuckle, peaches.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, nutmeg, cloves, black tea, hints of vinegar.
Comments:
Cask 039/2007. Lovely honeyed, fruity Daftmill, peaches and honey, but lacks the herbal edge the other Daftmills I’ve tried have. Left alone for a long time, it develops notes of vanilla and rose water. Stunning.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Dram
Nose: Peaches, honeysuckle, lemon zest, cloves, cinnamon, apple juice, hints of shortcrust pastry. With water, vanilla, cloves, peaches, apple juice.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, honeysuckle, apple juice, cider vinegar, vanilla, black tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. With water, malted grains, stale beer, cloves, honeysuckle, peaches.
Finish: Medium. Coffee, nutmeg, cloves, black tea, hints of vinegar.
Comments:
Cask 039/2007. Lovely honeyed, fruity Daftmill, peaches and honey, but lacks the herbal edge the other Daftmills I’ve tried have. Left alone for a long time, it develops notes of vanilla and rose water. Stunning.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 23 July 2022
Raasay 33 months Cask Sample, Woodford Reserve Rye Cask
Raasay 33 months Cask Sample, Woodford Reserve Rye Cask
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Pale green gold
Around 60% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, cream, lemon zest, cumin, sea salt, white pepper. With water, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Yoghurt, sourdough bread, cumin, lemon zest, sea salt, white pepper. With water, lemon zest, orange peel, fresh cut grass, white pepper.
Finish: Medium. Caraway seed, cumin, lemon zest, hints of orange peel.
Comments:
Age matters, as does the cask, I suppose. This whisky is spicy, lots of warming spices such as cumin and pepper, alongside some lemony tartness. A few more years will see this right.
Verdict:
I like this.
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Pale green gold
Around 60% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, cream, lemon zest, cumin, sea salt, white pepper. With water, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Yoghurt, sourdough bread, cumin, lemon zest, sea salt, white pepper. With water, lemon zest, orange peel, fresh cut grass, white pepper.
Finish: Medium. Caraway seed, cumin, lemon zest, hints of orange peel.
Comments:
Age matters, as does the cask, I suppose. This whisky is spicy, lots of warming spices such as cumin and pepper, alongside some lemony tartness. A few more years will see this right.
Verdict:
I like this.
Raasay 17 months Peated Cask Sample, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Cask
Raasay 17 months Peated Cask Sample, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Cask
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Pink, hints of orange
Around 60% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, oat porridge, surgical spirit, popcorn, red grapes, pomegranate molasses, new plastic. With water, orange peel, peaches, red grapes, lemon curd.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, expands, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Smoke, peat, pomegranate molasses, new plastic, orange peel, red grapes. With water, new plastic, peaches, lemon curd, smoke.
Finish: Long. New plastic, smoke, leather, oat porridge, hints of surgical spirit.
Comments:
Very alcoholic, not much else in terms of flavour, at least on the surface. Delving a bit reveals some nice windy notes, but also a heap of new plastic bags. I would say there are some promising features, but it needs a lot of aging.
Verdict:
I like this.
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Pink, hints of orange
Around 60% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, oat porridge, surgical spirit, popcorn, red grapes, pomegranate molasses, new plastic. With water, orange peel, peaches, red grapes, lemon curd.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, expands, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Smoke, peat, pomegranate molasses, new plastic, orange peel, red grapes. With water, new plastic, peaches, lemon curd, smoke.
Finish: Long. New plastic, smoke, leather, oat porridge, hints of surgical spirit.
Comments:
Very alcoholic, not much else in terms of flavour, at least on the surface. Delving a bit reveals some nice windy notes, but also a heap of new plastic bags. I would say there are some promising features, but it needs a lot of aging.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Longmorn 13yo 2009/2022
Longmorn 13yo 2009/2022
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden, hints of pink
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, cornflakes, popcorn, dulce de leche, white pepper, hints of lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, expands slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Orange peel, cornflakes, dulce de leche, butterscotch, popcorn, caramel, raisins, hints of nutmeg.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, butterscotch, dulce de leche, milk, hints of white pepper.
Comments:
A lovely little Longmorn, lots of milk and caramel, but not overly lactic. It tastes almost exactly like a sweet, highly buttered popcorn. There are some other notes as well, orange peel and a little white pepper, but these don’t detract at all. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Speyside
Golden, hints of pink
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, cornflakes, popcorn, dulce de leche, white pepper, hints of lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, expands slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Orange peel, cornflakes, dulce de leche, butterscotch, popcorn, caramel, raisins, hints of nutmeg.
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, butterscotch, dulce de leche, milk, hints of white pepper.
Comments:
A lovely little Longmorn, lots of milk and caramel, but not overly lactic. It tastes almost exactly like a sweet, highly buttered popcorn. There are some other notes as well, orange peel and a little white pepper, but these don’t detract at all. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Armorik Millesime 14yo 2002/2016
Armorik Millesime 14yo 2002/2016
Official bottling
Single malt - Brittany
Pink
59.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Roast chicken, black tea, strawberries, red grapes, cloves, sandalwood, vanilla ice cream, hints of honeydew melons, hints of honeysuckle. With water, vanilla ice cream, sandalwood, strawberries, hints of black tea.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Artificial grape flavour, roast chicken, sandalwood, peaches, strawberries, vanilla ice cream, honeysuckle, hints of orange peel. With water, honeydew melons, orange peel, black tea, hints of lychees.
Finish: Long. Roast chicken, sandalwood, cloves, orange peel, peaches.
Comments:
Cask 3309. Extremely fruity, sherry finished whisky, lots of tropical and stone fruit, as well as vanilla ice cream. There’s a meaty note as well, that tinges the whisky with an alluring savour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Brittany
Pink
59.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Roast chicken, black tea, strawberries, red grapes, cloves, sandalwood, vanilla ice cream, hints of honeydew melons, hints of honeysuckle. With water, vanilla ice cream, sandalwood, strawberries, hints of black tea.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Artificial grape flavour, roast chicken, sandalwood, peaches, strawberries, vanilla ice cream, honeysuckle, hints of orange peel. With water, honeydew melons, orange peel, black tea, hints of lychees.
Finish: Long. Roast chicken, sandalwood, cloves, orange peel, peaches.
Comments:
Cask 3309. Extremely fruity, sherry finished whisky, lots of tropical and stone fruit, as well as vanilla ice cream. There’s a meaty note as well, that tinges the whisky with an alluring savour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Girvan 10yo 2010/2021
Girvan 10yo 2010/2021
Select Grain, Murray McDavid
Single grain - Lowlands
Buttercups
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apples, vanilla, honey, caramel, cornflakes, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet. Cornflakes, green tea, honey, vanilla, caramel, hints of nutmeg, hints of sandalwood.
Finish: Long. Caramel, nutmeg, cornflakes, apples, vanilla, honey.
Comments:
I don’t normally like young grain whisky, but this is rather good. Decent level of complexity, even some spicy, and it’s got a touch of luxurious unctuous mouth feel. Very pleasant indeed.
Verdict:
I like this.
Select Grain, Murray McDavid
Single grain - Lowlands
Buttercups
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apples, vanilla, honey, caramel, cornflakes, hints of chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet. Cornflakes, green tea, honey, vanilla, caramel, hints of nutmeg, hints of sandalwood.
Finish: Long. Caramel, nutmeg, cornflakes, apples, vanilla, honey.
Comments:
I don’t normally like young grain whisky, but this is rather good. Decent level of complexity, even some spicy, and it’s got a touch of luxurious unctuous mouth feel. Very pleasant indeed.
Verdict:
I like this.
Waterford Micro Cuvée Primavera
Waterford Micro Cuvée Primavera
Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Bright gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee apples, malted grains, cinder toffee, honeycomb, cream, vanilla, hints of mushrooms.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cream, lemon juice, cinder toffee, honeycomb, aluminium foil, marshmallows, hints of toffee apples.
Finish: Medium. Marshmallows, vanilla, honeycomb, lemon juice, hints of mushrooms.
Comments:
A Waterford, better than usual, with lots of sweet notes in addition to the earthy, slightly smoky character. Some feinty metallic notes appear on the tongue, but in general it’s quite pleasant with decent complexity.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Bright gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee apples, malted grains, cinder toffee, honeycomb, cream, vanilla, hints of mushrooms.
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cream, lemon juice, cinder toffee, honeycomb, aluminium foil, marshmallows, hints of toffee apples.
Finish: Medium. Marshmallows, vanilla, honeycomb, lemon juice, hints of mushrooms.
Comments:
A Waterford, better than usual, with lots of sweet notes in addition to the earthy, slightly smoky character. Some feinty metallic notes appear on the tongue, but in general it’s quite pleasant with decent complexity.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 19 July 2022
Williamson 10yo 2010/2020
Williamson 10yo 2010/2020
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Islay
Pale orange
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, mint, leather, peat, Chinese angelica, black tea, matches, driftwood smoke.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Mint, red grapes, black tea, matches, jasmine, leather, peat, sandalwood, wet stones, driftwood smoke, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, Chinese angelica, driftwood smoke, leather, mint, fresh baked bread.
Comments:
Williamson is, of course, Laphroaig by another name. This one is sherry cask finished, and is herbal and rather gently peated. There’s plenty of cereal and floral jasmine notes, especially on the tongue. I enjoyed this very much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Strictly Limited, Carn Mor
Single malt - Islay
Pale orange
47.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, mint, leather, peat, Chinese angelica, black tea, matches, driftwood smoke.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Mint, red grapes, black tea, matches, jasmine, leather, peat, sandalwood, wet stones, driftwood smoke, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, Chinese angelica, driftwood smoke, leather, mint, fresh baked bread.
Comments:
Williamson is, of course, Laphroaig by another name. This one is sherry cask finished, and is herbal and rather gently peated. There’s plenty of cereal and floral jasmine notes, especially on the tongue. I enjoyed this very much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Monday, 18 July 2022
Edradour 10yo Equinox & Solstice Spring Edition
Edradour 10yo Equinox & Solstice Spring Edition
Equinox & Solstice, Decadent Drinks
Single malt - Central Highlands
Sunshine yellow
48.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, honeycomb, pear drops, apple juice, hazelnuts, lemon sherbet, hints of sandalwood, hints of brass polish.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, stale beer, honeycomb, dried apricots, fresh baked bread, barley sugar, clotted cream, hints of lemon sherbet.
Finish: Medium. Hazelnuts, barley sugar, clotted cream, lemon sherbet, hints of dried apricots.
Comments:
A vatting of two casks, one distilled in 2003 and the other in 2010. This whisky lacks the Kendal mint cake notes that I like Edradour for, but it’s fruity and intense. Lots of dried fruit, and citrusy lemon sherbet. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Equinox & Solstice, Decadent Drinks
Single malt - Central Highlands
Sunshine yellow
48.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, honeycomb, pear drops, apple juice, hazelnuts, lemon sherbet, hints of sandalwood, hints of brass polish.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, syrupy, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, stale beer, honeycomb, dried apricots, fresh baked bread, barley sugar, clotted cream, hints of lemon sherbet.
Finish: Medium. Hazelnuts, barley sugar, clotted cream, lemon sherbet, hints of dried apricots.
Comments:
A vatting of two casks, one distilled in 2003 and the other in 2010. This whisky lacks the Kendal mint cake notes that I like Edradour for, but it’s fruity and intense. Lots of dried fruit, and citrusy lemon sherbet. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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