Lochlea Fallow Edition

Lochlea Fallow Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber red
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, red wine, orange juice, lemon zest, allspice, brown sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cinder toffee, red wine, raisins, lemon zest, brown sugar, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Red wine, lemon zest, orange juice, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Oloroso aged, but still not too sweet. There’s a tart, winey note that distinguishes this whisky from other sherry bombs. Cinder toffee and gentle spiciness complete the picture. Another pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Tomintoul 14yo (2008 Edition)

Tomintoul 14yo (2008 Edition)

Official bottling 
Single malt - Speyside
Orange gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, black tea, vanilla, orange peel, white pepper, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, cinder toffee, white grapes, butterscotch, raisins, hints of allspice. 
Finish: Medium. Cinder toffee, black tea, nutmeg, raisins, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Sweet and sticky, but lots of toffee / butterscotch notes, where I’d expected fruit (it’s matured in white port casks, after all). It’s got a bitter, spicy edge too, that lifts it beyond the ordinary. Quite a pleasant dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2022 Batch 02/18

Glen Wyvis 3yo 2018/2022 Batch 02/18

Official bottling 
Single malt - North Highlands
Green gold
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Fresh cut grass, camphor, white grapes, thyme, kiwifruit, hints of lemon zest. 

Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour. Sour cream, fresh cut grass, white grapes, lemon zest, green apples, hints of pear drops. 
Finish: Long. Thyme, lemon zest, green apples, kiwifruit. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, but also shot through with fruit and grassy notes. I do find this whisky promising, it should deepen and become more complex with age, whilst remaining fresh and bright. That’s the hope, anyway.

Verdict:

I like this.

Cragganmore 18yo 1961/1979

Cragganmore 18yo 1961/1979

Dumpy, WM Cadenhead 
Single malt - Speyside 

Golden brown 
45.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, nectarines, gentian, leather, orange peel, fresh baked bread, hints of peaches. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Nectarines, leather, gentian, dark chocolate, fresh baked bread, black pepper, raisins, hints of winter melon. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, dark chocolate, honey, peaches, hints of butterscotch. 

Comments: 

Such a treat, many thanks, Fred! Long, smooth and flavoursome, this whisky goes on for hours. I could still taste this whisky the next day. Sweet, chock full of the best old bottle effect, but cut with alpine herbs and gentle fruit. Amazing stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Haran 18yo

Haran 18yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - Pais Vasco
Bright gold 
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, camphor, raisins, fresh cut grass, roast pork, jasmine, hints of violets. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Camphor, fresh cut grass, leather, star anise, cinnamon, raisins, molasses. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, raisins, leather, camphor, cloves. 

Comments: 

Another Spanish whisky. Quite floral, but compared to the younger expression, it’s more rounded and robust. Some herbal notes appear alongside all that flowery spice. Quite different, and I shall continue to explore.

Verdict:

I like this.

Masthouse Single Grain Whisky

Masthouse Single Grain Whisky

Official bottling
Single grain - Kent
White wine
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream cheese, bananas, fresh cut grass, pear drops, sultanas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon zest, fresh cut grass, vanilla sponge, green apples, pear drops, hints of white wine. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, bananas, green apples, vanilla sponge, sultanas. 

Comments: 

Tart and lactic, not hugely complex. It’s too young to be what I enjoy, I think, and it’s been diluted a little too much. There’s a few promising hints of course, some green apple and vanilla notes might intensify as it gets older.

Verdict:

I like this.

291 Small Batch (Batch 30)

291 Small Batch (Batch 30)

Official bottling 
Single rye - Colorado
Amber red
50.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, black pepper, peaches, orange peel, raisins, rye bread, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Black pepper, peaches, orange peel, fresh baked bread, brown paper, sandalwood. 
Finish: Long. Orange peel, rye bread, sandalwood, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Aspen stave finished. It’s quite fragrant and woody, lots of peaches and orange peel notes. There’s a pervasive sandalwood note, like you might find in a mizunara influenced whisky. That’s probably the aspen, but other woods can impart it too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Spey 12yo 2009/2022

Glen Spey 12yo 2009/2022

Hidden Spirits Whisky Company
Single malt - Speyside
Straw
53.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Milk, yoghurt, hibiscus, honey, lemon zest, toffee, hints of bananas. With water, condensed milk, toffee, lemon zest, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy. 
Tasting:  Sour. Yoghurt, cream, butterscotch, nutmeg, hibiscus, ginseng, hints of white pepper. With water, butterscotch, condensed milk, vanilla, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, toffee, nutmeg, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Very lactic, not typical for this distillery. Also paired with some tart notes, although with water, a little bit of sweetness appears. Lots of herbal spice in the background too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

Official bottling 
Single rye - Southern Finland
Amber brown
47.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, cream, malted grains, sandalwood, hints of peaches, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, sandalwood, black pepper, hints of peaches, hints of violets. 
Finish: Medium. Sandalwood, pine, cream, black pepper, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Malted rye whisky, not something you see everyday. Anyway, it’s fruity, malty and woody, almost incense-like. Lots of cereal notes too, complex and floral.

Verdict:

I like this.

Inchgower 18yo 1976/1994

Inchgower 18yo 1976/1994

First Cask, The Malt Whisky Circle 
Single malt - Speyside 
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Menthol, green apples, leather, honey, pistachios, lemon zest. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, loosens, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green apples, honey, dark chocolate, pistachios, vanilla, black tea, allspice. 
Finish: Long. Leather, black tea, green apples, menthol, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 9891. Tastes old and leathery, lots of old bottle effect. Plenty of dark chocolate and green apples still shows through though, it must have been quite bright and intense when younger. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.