Stoutridge Rye Cask Sample

Stoutridge Rye Cask Sample

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - New York
Amber
54.28% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cookie dough, vanilla, sourdough bread, brown paper, milk chocolate, nutmeg. With water, brown paper, milk chocolate, pumpernickel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black pepper, vanilla, cookie dough, pumpernickel, black tea, nutmeg. With water, black pepper, pumpernickel, milk chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, pumpernickel, black pepper, nutmeg. 

Comments: 

Very yeasty rye, lots of sweet notes. The rye spiciness has softened into a slightly chemical funk, but it’s still pretty good. A little water enhances the yeastiness and brings it together.

Verdict:

I like this.

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10yo

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10yo

& Whisky, Master of Malt
Single malt - Islay
Orange 
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peat, honey, wood smoke, autumn leaves, nori, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cools, thickens, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Nori, honey, orange peel, wood smoke, leather, smoked bacon, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Peat, leather, wood smoke, orange peel. 

Comments: 

Excellent smoky salty whisky, especially for the price. I think this is a Laphroaig, but others say Caol Ila. Regardless, there’s plenty of savoury yet gentle smoke.

Verdict:

I like this.

Morris Muscat Barrel Finish

Morris Muscat Barrel Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - Victoria 
Chinese tea
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, damson jam, blueberries, aluminium foil, black tea, black pepper, hints of brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Black tea, raisins, damson jam, black pepper, cocoa nibs, cloves, dark chocolate, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, raisins, damson jam, cocoa nibs, malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, classic sweet wine finished whisky. Lots of jammy and chocolate notes, but also fragrant and spicy. This distillery produces interesting stuff.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ben Nevis 9yo 2012/2021

Ben Nevis 9yo 2012/2021

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - West Highlands
Golden
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Starfruit, vanilla ice cream, malted grains, jasmine, pear drops, icing sugar, hints of blueberries. With water, pear drops, burnt sugar, grapefruit, hops. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Starfruit, vanilla ice cream, jasmine, lemon zest, grapefruit, pear drops, burnt sugar, hops. With water, pear drops, starfruit, hops. 

Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, blueberries, pear drops, hops. 

Comments: 

Lovely and floral Ben Nevis. It’s intense and bright. The Cromarty beer cask finish adds additional citrus and hops notes. A fine example of what cask finishing can bring to a whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Auchroisk 37yo 1982 (bottled 2022)

Auchroisk 37yo 1982 (bottled 2022)

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark gold
48.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, fresh cut grass, sea salt, cooked rice, raisins, roast pork, hints of chalk. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, marmalade, sea salt, cooked rice, vanilla ice cream, maple syrup, roast pork, hints of orange peel. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, vanilla ice cream, fresh cut grass, Chinese angelica. 

Comments: 

Herbal and leathery old dram, with plenty of meaty fruity notes. It’s got a little tangy zing in the finish, but again, more herbal than citrus. Very good stuff, this old Auchroisk has been very popular.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glen Garioch 29yo 1988 (bottled 2022) for East Coast Whisky

Glen Garioch 29yo 1988 (bottled 2022) for East Coast Whisky

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Eastern Highlands
Amber gold
46.2% ABV

Bottle

Nose: White pepper, mustard seeds, honey, leather, celery salt, raisins, orange peel, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, expands, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Wet stones, leather, pears, mustard seeds, honey, pencil lead, celery salt, orange peel. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, pencil lead, leather, pears, hints of celery salt. 

Comments: 

The whisky has spent some time in HDPE. But it’s excellent - minerally and sweet, with nutty hints of mustard seeds. A really good old Garioch. Thank you Fred for the chance to get this lovely bottle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.1

Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Munster
Pale golden brown 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Vanilla, autumn leaves, lemon zest, marshmallows, sour cream, hints of magic marker, hints of mushrooms. With water, magic marker, lemon zest, photocopy paper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, tingly, loosens. 
Tasting:  Sour. Sour cream, malted grains, raisins, lemon zest, marshmallows, cinder toffee, cinnamon, hints of mushrooms. With water, cinder toffee, vanilla, marshmallows, hints of mushrooms. 
Finish: Short. Marshmallows, cinnamon, sour cream, magic marker. 

Comments: 

I’m a little wary of Waterford after some previous experiences, but this one met expectations. Lots of sweet flavours coalesce around an earthy, slightly savoury core. Quite pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this.

St George’s Distiller’s Elect 2014

St George’s Distiller’s Elect 2014

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Anglia
Orange yellow
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, dark chocolate, lemon zest, hay, leather, cloves, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, cool, expands. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, dark chocolate, magic marker, malted grains, leather, wet stones, hints of nutmeg. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cloves, wet stones, magic marker, hints of coal gas. 

Comments: 

Straightforward malt, with a little bit of old bottle effect. Very drinkable and approachable, a pleasant, delicious dram. My first St George’s in several years. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Milroy’s Exclusive Mackmyra Cloudberry Wine Cask Finish

Milroy’s Exclusive Mackmyra Cloudberry Wine Cask Finish

Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Gästrikland
Bright gold
52.6% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Raspberries, cloudberries, vanilla ice cream, roses, sarsaparilla, juniper berries, malted grains. With water, lemon zest, vanilla ice cream, roses, pine. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, turns oily, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla ice cream, malted grains, wheat beer, juniper berries, roses, cloudberries. With water, malted grains, vanilla ice cream, pine, sarsaparilla. 
Finish: Long. Sarsaparilla, wheat beer, malted grains, raspberries. 

Comments: 

Cask 19-1053. One of the best cask finishes I’ve ever tasted, it’s floral and fruity, well integrated into the typical woody Mackmyra flavours. The flavour notes are clean and distinctive, and meld together very well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Maple Syrup & Toasted Oats & Orange Zest & Vanilla

Maple Syrup & Toasted Oats & Orange Zest & Vanilla 

& Whisky, Master of Malt

Blended malt
Dark amber orange 
40% ABV
Bottle

Nose: Popcorn, toffee, butterscotch, maple syrup, orange peel, vanilla, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Oatcakes, orange peel, leather, toffee, honey, maple syrup, cloves, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Cloves, aluminium foil, toffee, popcorn, hints of sea salt. 

Comments: 

Surprisingly rich and intense, great mouthfeel and exactly what it says on the bottle. Possibly the best value for money whisky I’ve had for a while.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.