Lagavulin 12yo (2021 Special Releases)
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Pale gold
56.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, driftwood smoke, leather, peat, germolene, tobacco leaf, cotton sheets, dried apricots. With water, lemon sweets, honey, dried apricots, tobacco leaf, germolene.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Golden syrup, leather, driftwood smoke, dried apricots, lemon zest, lemon sweets, sea salt, hints of tarry rope. With water, lemon sweets, honey, leather, tobacco leaf.
Finish: Medium. Lemon sweets, peat, germolene, tarry rope, driftwood smoke.
Comments:
Lovely, thick and smoky, this whisky is hugely complex and intensely flavourful. It’s surprisingly mild, as far as the smoke level is concerned, and instead is redolent of dried apricots and lemon sweets. Very good indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 2 August 2022
Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask
Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask
Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Copper red
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Artificial grape flavour, cocoa nibs, raisins, black tea, strawberry jam, nutmeg, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, coffee, dark chocolate, dried apricots, peaches, artificial grape flavour, hints of acacia honey.
Finish: Short. Coffee, black tea, cocoa nibs, peaches, artificial grape flavour.
Comments:
Sweet and luscious, quite fruity and estery, this whisky is surprisingly complex, despite its lack of an age statement and the low ABV. Plenty of pleasingly bitter notes in the finish as well. Good dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Taiwan
Copper red
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Artificial grape flavour, cocoa nibs, raisins, black tea, strawberry jam, nutmeg, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, coffee, dark chocolate, dried apricots, peaches, artificial grape flavour, hints of acacia honey.
Finish: Short. Coffee, black tea, cocoa nibs, peaches, artificial grape flavour.
Comments:
Sweet and luscious, quite fruity and estery, this whisky is surprisingly complex, despite its lack of an age statement and the low ABV. Plenty of pleasingly bitter notes in the finish as well. Good dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 1 August 2022
Aber Falls Distiller’s Cut (Orange Wine Cask)
Aber Falls Distiller’s Cut (Orange Wine Cask)
Official bottling
Single malt - North Wales
Orange
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, lemon sweets, malted grains, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, hints of white wine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, loosens slightly.
Tasting: Sour. Malted grains, sourdough bread, muesli, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, orange juice, hints of black tea.
Finish: Short. Vitamin C tablets, white wine, sourdough bread, coffee, hints of grapefruit.
Comments:
An interesting experiment - whisky matured in orange wine casks. Well, there’s plenty of citrus fruit, not just orange, but lemon and grapefruit as well. In fact the main note is fizzy vitamin C tablets! A decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Wales
Orange
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, lemon sweets, malted grains, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, hints of white wine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, cool, loosens slightly.
Tasting: Sour. Malted grains, sourdough bread, muesli, grapefruit, vitamin C tablets, orange juice, hints of black tea.
Finish: Short. Vitamin C tablets, white wine, sourdough bread, coffee, hints of grapefruit.
Comments:
An interesting experiment - whisky matured in orange wine casks. Well, there’s plenty of citrus fruit, not just orange, but lemon and grapefruit as well. In fact the main note is fizzy vitamin C tablets! A decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Glen Moray 13yo 2008/2021 Unpeated Cask Sample, Ex-Red Wine Cask 2956
Glen Moray 13yo 2008/2021 Unpeated Cask Sample, Ex-Red Wine Cask 2956
Caskshare
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
Around 55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dark chocolate, hazelnuts, honey, cocoa nibs, raisins, pruneaux, hints of black pepper, hints of sandalwood. With water, dark chocolate, black pepper, pruneaux, hints of aluminium foil.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, raisins, black tea, coffee, bananas, marshmallows, sandalwood, hints of cloves. With water, pruneaux, raisins, black tea, coffee, bananas.
Finish: Short. Bananas, marshmallows, black tea, coffee, hints of black pepper.
Comments:
Winey and fragrant, the flavours in this Glen Moray imparted by the red wine cask seem to have melded well. Lots of pruneaux and bitter notes, but a floral fruity finish of banana marshmallows. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Caskshare
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
Around 55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Dark chocolate, hazelnuts, honey, cocoa nibs, raisins, pruneaux, hints of black pepper, hints of sandalwood. With water, dark chocolate, black pepper, pruneaux, hints of aluminium foil.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, raisins, black tea, coffee, bananas, marshmallows, sandalwood, hints of cloves. With water, pruneaux, raisins, black tea, coffee, bananas.
Finish: Short. Bananas, marshmallows, black tea, coffee, hints of black pepper.
Comments:
Winey and fragrant, the flavours in this Glen Moray imparted by the red wine cask seem to have melded well. Lots of pruneaux and bitter notes, but a floral fruity finish of banana marshmallows. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ardnamurchan 6yo 2015/2021 Peated Cask Sample, Cask 760P
Ardnamurchan 6yo 2015/2021 Peated Cask Sample, Cask 706P
Caskshare
Single malt - Western Highlands
White wine
Around 52% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, driftwood smoke, sandalwood, nutmeg, jasmine, dark chocolate, dried apricots, sea salt. With water, driftwood smoke, roast chicken, malted grains, dark chocolate, jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Malted grains, driftwood smoke, dried apricots, dried pears, jasmine, lemon zest, hints of dark chocolate. With water, fresh baked bread, dried apricots, dark chocolate, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Leather, nutmeg, dried apricots, dried pears, hints of sandalwood.
Comments:
Cask 706P. Lots of meaty peaty notes, salty smoke, savoury roast chicken, and sweet dried fruit. Well integrated, and as Ardnamurchan normally is, very complex for a young whisky. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Caskshare
Single malt - Western Highlands
White wine
Around 52% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, driftwood smoke, sandalwood, nutmeg, jasmine, dark chocolate, dried apricots, sea salt. With water, driftwood smoke, roast chicken, malted grains, dark chocolate, jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Malted grains, driftwood smoke, dried apricots, dried pears, jasmine, lemon zest, hints of dark chocolate. With water, fresh baked bread, dried apricots, dark chocolate, hints of roast chicken.
Finish: Long. Leather, nutmeg, dried apricots, dried pears, hints of sandalwood.
Comments:
Cask 706P. Lots of meaty peaty notes, salty smoke, savoury roast chicken, and sweet dried fruit. Well integrated, and as Ardnamurchan normally is, very complex for a young whisky. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thursday, 28 July 2022
Cambus 32yo 1989/2021 Cask Sample
Cambus 32yo 1989/2022
Caskshare
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
Around 45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, sandalwood, cedar, pears, fresh cut grass, popcorn, salted caramel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Popcorn, salted caramel, lemon zest, cream, vanilla, cedar, butter, hints of black tea.
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, vanilla, cream, butter, sea salt, hints of salted caramel.
Comments:
Cask 41752. Buttery old grain, utterly delicious and comfortingly straightforward. Heaps of popcorn and salted caramel, just the type of grain whisky I like. Yummy.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Caskshare
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
Around 45% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, sandalwood, cedar, pears, fresh cut grass, popcorn, salted caramel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Popcorn, salted caramel, lemon zest, cream, vanilla, cedar, butter, hints of black tea.
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, vanilla, cream, butter, sea salt, hints of salted caramel.
Comments:
Cask 41752. Buttery old grain, utterly delicious and comfortingly straightforward. Heaps of popcorn and salted caramel, just the type of grain whisky I like. Yummy.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Raasay 45 months Peated Cask Sample, Virgin Chinkapin Oak Cask
Raasay 45 months Peated Cask Sample, Virgin Chinkapin Oak Cask
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Amber
Around 55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, mint, fresh cut grass, raisins, sage, orange peel, white pepper, smoke. With water, pears, pencil erasers, white pepper, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Mint, fresh cut grass, orange peel, sage, smoke, dark chocolate, white pepper, sea salt, hints of roast chicken. With water, dark chocolate, pears, pencil erasers, smoke.
Finish: Medium. White pepper, smoke, leather, dark chocolate, hints of roast chicken.
Comments:
This is actually whisky, unlike the previous 2 cask samples I had from Raasay. It’s fruity and spicy, lots of interesting flavours imparted by the virgin oak cask. Some slightly sulphurous notes too, but ‘good’ sulphur rather than unpleasant sulphur. Water opens it right up, creating a smoky, chocolatey dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Caskshare
Single malt - Islands
Amber
Around 55% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, mint, fresh cut grass, raisins, sage, orange peel, white pepper, smoke. With water, pears, pencil erasers, white pepper, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Mint, fresh cut grass, orange peel, sage, smoke, dark chocolate, white pepper, sea salt, hints of roast chicken. With water, dark chocolate, pears, pencil erasers, smoke.
Finish: Medium. White pepper, smoke, leather, dark chocolate, hints of roast chicken.
Comments:
This is actually whisky, unlike the previous 2 cask samples I had from Raasay. It’s fruity and spicy, lots of interesting flavours imparted by the virgin oak cask. Some slightly sulphurous notes too, but ‘good’ sulphur rather than unpleasant sulphur. Water opens it right up, creating a smoky, chocolatey dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Glen Grant 24yo 1998/2022
Glen Grant 24yo 1998/2022
Monologue, Chapter 7
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
51.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, rose petals, artificial grape flavour, white grapes, honey, jasmine, malted grains, cream.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, mouth coating, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Rose petals, vanilla, caramel, cream, malted grains, honey, jasmine, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Medium. Cream, caramel, honey, jasmine, orange peel.
Comments:
Cask 6454. Floral and sweet, lots of cereal notes as well. Certain estery flavours on the nose don’t quite make it to the tongue, unfortunately. Beautiful finish though, a highly enjoyable dram. Thank you Andrea!
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Monologue, Chapter 7
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
51.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Vanilla, rose petals, artificial grape flavour, white grapes, honey, jasmine, malted grains, cream.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, mouth coating, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Rose petals, vanilla, caramel, cream, malted grains, honey, jasmine, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Medium. Cream, caramel, honey, jasmine, orange peel.
Comments:
Cask 6454. Floral and sweet, lots of cereal notes as well. Certain estery flavours on the nose don’t quite make it to the tongue, unfortunately. Beautiful finish though, a highly enjoyable dram. Thank you Andrea!
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Yamazaki Spanish Oak 2022 Edition
Yamazaki Spanish Oak 2022 Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Mahogany red
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, nutmeg, raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla, orange peel, hints of toast.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands.
Tasting: Bitter. Black tea, raisins, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of black pepper.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, coffee, dark chocolate.
Comments:
The first Yamazaki I’ve tasted in 7 years, a function of the insane prices and the rarity of the whisky itself. Lots of winey sweet notes, highly sherried whisky. Clean, well-defined and complex flavour notes, with a nice bitter finish. Excellent stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Mahogany red
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, nutmeg, raisins, dark chocolate, vanilla, orange peel, hints of toast.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, expands.
Tasting: Bitter. Black tea, raisins, cocoa nibs, dark chocolate, coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of black pepper.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, black pepper, coffee, dark chocolate.
Comments:
The first Yamazaki I’ve tasted in 7 years, a function of the insane prices and the rarity of the whisky itself. Lots of winey sweet notes, highly sherried whisky. Clean, well-defined and complex flavour notes, with a nice bitter finish. Excellent stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Westland Garryanna 5th Edition
Westland Garryanna 5th Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Dark gold, hints of copper
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, smoke, leather, peat, burning leaves, honey, cedar, hints of orange peel, hints of golden syrup.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, golden syrup, Chinese angelica, orange peel, black tea, smoke, leather, hints of tobacco leaf.
Finish: Long. Chinese angelica, tobacco leaf, leather, strawberries, golden syrup, cedar.
Comments:
Herbal and woody, lots of bitter flavours that meld very well together. There’s more than a little smoke as well, very pleasant and well constructed. This is excellent whisky, in an unusual style.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Dark gold, hints of copper
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, smoke, leather, peat, burning leaves, honey, cedar, hints of orange peel, hints of golden syrup.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, golden syrup, Chinese angelica, orange peel, black tea, smoke, leather, hints of tobacco leaf.
Finish: Long. Chinese angelica, tobacco leaf, leather, strawberries, golden syrup, cedar.
Comments:
Herbal and woody, lots of bitter flavours that meld very well together. There’s more than a little smoke as well, very pleasant and well constructed. This is excellent whisky, in an unusual style.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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