Starward Ginger Beer Cask #6 2017/2021
Official bottling
Single malt - Victoria
Copper
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Gingerbread, black tea, honey, cloves, malted grains, caramel, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Gingerbread, malted grains, green tea, black tea, orange peel, sea salt, nutmeg, hints of cloves.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, gingerbread, honey, cloves.
Comments:
Sweet and spicy, everything you’d expect from a ginger beer cask. I’ve been trying to find this one for a while, it seems very popular. And now I know why.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 8 June 2023
Cambus 29yo 1991
Cambus 29yo 1991
Exceptional Casks, Berry Bros & Rudd
Exceptional Casks, Berry Bros & Rudd
Single grain - Lowlands
Light amber
49.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Milk chocolate, malted grains, raisins, caramel, vanilla, hints of desiccated coconut.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Milk chocolate, black tea, vanilla, raisins, sea salt, butterscotch, hints of desiccated coconut.
Finish: Long. Desiccated coconut, butterscotch, sea salt, raisins, hints of peanut butter.
Comments:
Cask 103023. Lots of sweet grain, long aging creates this deep chocolatey note. Love the butterscotch as well. Very pleasant indeed. Don’t see Cambus very often any more.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Light amber
49.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Milk chocolate, malted grains, raisins, caramel, vanilla, hints of desiccated coconut.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, airy.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Milk chocolate, black tea, vanilla, raisins, sea salt, butterscotch, hints of desiccated coconut.
Finish: Long. Desiccated coconut, butterscotch, sea salt, raisins, hints of peanut butter.
Comments:
Cask 103023. Lots of sweet grain, long aging creates this deep chocolatey note. Love the butterscotch as well. Very pleasant indeed. Don’t see Cambus very often any more.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
SE Eleven Single Grain
SE Eleven Single Grain
Official bottling
Single grain - Saskatchewan
Amber red
47.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, vanilla custard, nutmeg, green tea, strawberry jam, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Desiccated coconut, vanilla custard, marmalade, strawberry jam, vanilla sponge, honey, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, strawberry jam, marmalade, vanilla sponge.
Comments:
Batch W00043B. Sweet and juicy, quite a lot of malt despite it being labeled as single grain. Not what I expected at all.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single grain - Saskatchewan
Amber red
47.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange juice, vanilla custard, nutmeg, green tea, strawberry jam, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet. Desiccated coconut, vanilla custard, marmalade, strawberry jam, vanilla sponge, honey, fresh baked bread.
Finish: Medium. Orange juice, strawberry jam, marmalade, vanilla sponge.
Comments:
Batch W00043B. Sweet and juicy, quite a lot of malt despite it being labeled as single grain. Not what I expected at all.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ben Nevis 10yo 2012/2023
Ben Nevis 10yo 2012/2023
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - West Highlands
Chinese tea
57.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apple juice, cinnamon, cinder toffee, brown sugar, lemon zest, vanilla. With water, magic marker, pears, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, cinnamon, shortcrust pastry, cinder toffee, black tea, pears, raisins, hints of red wine. With water, cinder toffee, pears, red wine, vanilla.
Finish: Long. Pears, apple juice, black tea, nutmeg.
Comments:
Cask 1728. An apple pie of a whisky, tangy and hot on the tongue, but with plenty of apply flavour and spice. The red wine finish is quite light, some tannins appear if you add water, but it’s gentle.
Verdict:
I like this.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - West Highlands
Chinese tea
57.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Apple juice, cinnamon, cinder toffee, brown sugar, lemon zest, vanilla. With water, magic marker, pears, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, astringent, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apple juice, cinnamon, shortcrust pastry, cinder toffee, black tea, pears, raisins, hints of red wine. With water, cinder toffee, pears, red wine, vanilla.
Finish: Long. Pears, apple juice, black tea, nutmeg.
Comments:
Cask 1728. An apple pie of a whisky, tangy and hot on the tongue, but with plenty of apply flavour and spice. The red wine finish is quite light, some tannins appear if you add water, but it’s gentle.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 7 June 2023
Annandale Man O’Sword Oloroso Sherry Butt (Cask 776)
Annandale Man O’Sword Oloroso Sherry Butt (Cask 776)
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
60.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pears, lemon sweets, honey, germolene, leather, vitamin C tablets, hints of smoke. With water, honey, raisins, pears, leather, hints of cloves.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peanuts, germolene, peat, leather, smoke, brass polish, honey, pears. With water, raisins, germolene, brass polish, honey.
Finish: Short. Smoke, germolene, peanuts, malted grains.
Comments:
Quite smoky, the Sherry cask influence seems to have been buried under a lot of peaty, herbal, medicinal flavours. There’s some raisins and cloves that make a brief appearance if you add some water.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
60.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pears, lemon sweets, honey, germolene, leather, vitamin C tablets, hints of smoke. With water, honey, raisins, pears, leather, hints of cloves.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, astringent, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peanuts, germolene, peat, leather, smoke, brass polish, honey, pears. With water, raisins, germolene, brass polish, honey.
Finish: Short. Smoke, germolene, peanuts, malted grains.
Comments:
Quite smoky, the Sherry cask influence seems to have been buried under a lot of peaty, herbal, medicinal flavours. There’s some raisins and cloves that make a brief appearance if you add some water.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 5 June 2023
Millburn 26yo 1974/2001
Millburn 26yo 1974/2006
Chairman’s Stock, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, pineapples, mangosteens, bananas, white pepper, white wine, white grapes. With water, leather, malted grains, mangosteens, sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, airy.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, white pepper, white grapes, cinnamon, hints of mangosteens. With water, cooked rice, malted grains, sandalwood.
Finish: Long. Leather, white grapes, cooked rice, cinnamon, white pepper.
Comments:
Spicy, quite tart, but still lots of tropical fruit and leather. The peat is gentle here, just a whisper. Lots of fragrant stuff as well. Brilliant whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Chairman’s Stock, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, pineapples, mangosteens, bananas, white pepper, white wine, white grapes. With water, leather, malted grains, mangosteens, sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, airy.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Malted grains, hoppy beer, white pepper, white grapes, cinnamon, hints of mangosteens. With water, cooked rice, malted grains, sandalwood.
Finish: Long. Leather, white grapes, cooked rice, cinnamon, white pepper.
Comments:
Spicy, quite tart, but still lots of tropical fruit and leather. The peat is gentle here, just a whisper. Lots of fragrant stuff as well. Brilliant whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Millburn 31yo 1974/2006
Millburn 31yo 1974/2006
Closed Distilleries, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Sunshine gold
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pineapples, mangoes, bananas, vanilla custard, malted grains, leather, hints of smoke. With water, starfruit, green apples, cotton candy.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, hoppy beer, malted grains, vanilla custard, starfruit, leather, hints of smoke. With water, starfruit, lemon zest, malted grains, leather.
Finish: Long. Vanilla custard, malted grains, starfruit, green apples, hints of smoke.
Comments:
Bright and fruity still, with just a bit of old bottle effect. Lots of tropical fruit with just that hint of smoke and leather in the background. Really good stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Closed Distilleries, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Sunshine gold
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pineapples, mangoes, bananas, vanilla custard, malted grains, leather, hints of smoke. With water, starfruit, green apples, cotton candy.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, tingly, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, hoppy beer, malted grains, vanilla custard, starfruit, leather, hints of smoke. With water, starfruit, lemon zest, malted grains, leather.
Finish: Long. Vanilla custard, malted grains, starfruit, green apples, hints of smoke.
Comments:
Bright and fruity still, with just a bit of old bottle effect. Lots of tropical fruit with just that hint of smoke and leather in the background. Really good stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 3 June 2023
Waldviertler Whisky J Haider Special Single Malt Selection
Waldviertler Whisky J Haider Special Single Malt Selection
Official bottling
Single malt - Niederösterreich
Sunshine yellow
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, charcoal ash, peanuts, roasted chestnuts, dried limes, lime zest, hints of white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter. Ginseng, charcoal ash, roasted chestnuts, smoke, fresh cut grass, new plastic, hints of white grapes.
Finish: Long. Ginseng, charcoal ash, smoke, honey, dried limes.
Comments:
Quite unbalanced, with some hints of plastic (which is possibly my least favourite tasting note), but the ashy bitterness makes up for it. Austrian whisky is different, of course.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Niederösterreich
Sunshine yellow
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, charcoal ash, peanuts, roasted chestnuts, dried limes, lime zest, hints of white grapes.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter. Ginseng, charcoal ash, roasted chestnuts, smoke, fresh cut grass, new plastic, hints of white grapes.
Finish: Long. Ginseng, charcoal ash, smoke, honey, dried limes.
Comments:
Quite unbalanced, with some hints of plastic (which is possibly my least favourite tasting note), but the ashy bitterness makes up for it. Austrian whisky is different, of course.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 2 June 2023
Veuve Goudoulin Single Malt (bottled 2019)
Veuve Goudoulin Single Malt (bottled 2019)
Official bottling
Single malt - Midi-Pyrenees
Dark gold
43.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, lemon juice, yoghurt, malted grains, fresh cut grass, peaches, hints of balsamic vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, tingly, loosens.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Fresh cut grass, jasmine, green tea, white grapes, apricot jam, hints of orange blossom.
Finish: Medium. Sandalwood, peaches, white grapes, yogurt.
Comments:
Whisky from an Armagnac producer! It’s a little sweet, like overripe fruits, but there’s a lot of complexity in what must be quite a young whisky. I don’t think Veuve Goudoulin should stop making Armagnac, but they could make more whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Midi-Pyrenees
Dark gold
43.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, lemon juice, yoghurt, malted grains, fresh cut grass, peaches, hints of balsamic vinegar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, tingly, loosens.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Fresh cut grass, jasmine, green tea, white grapes, apricot jam, hints of orange blossom.
Finish: Medium. Sandalwood, peaches, white grapes, yogurt.
Comments:
Whisky from an Armagnac producer! It’s a little sweet, like overripe fruits, but there’s a lot of complexity in what must be quite a young whisky. I don’t think Veuve Goudoulin should stop making Armagnac, but they could make more whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Duvel Moortgat 10yo 2011/2021 The Celebration Bottle
Duvel Moortgat 10yo 2011/2021 The Celebration Bottle
Official bottling
Single malt - Antwerp
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, malted grains, strawberry jam, chestnuts, peanut butter, butterscotch, honey, black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Malted grains, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, brown paper, rye bread, hints of honey.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, strawberry jam, raisins, rye bread, nutmeg.
Comments:
Not strictly a whisky, this is distilled Duvel beer, so it contains hops. Nevertheless it’s great, pleasantly spicy, with some nutty, jammy notes to balance it out. I’d drink more of this stuff, but it’s quite rare.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Antwerp
Amber
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, malted grains, strawberry jam, chestnuts, peanut butter, butterscotch, honey, black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, cool, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Malted grains, raisins, black pepper, nutmeg, brown paper, rye bread, hints of honey.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, strawberry jam, raisins, rye bread, nutmeg.
Comments:
Not strictly a whisky, this is distilled Duvel beer, so it contains hops. Nevertheless it’s great, pleasantly spicy, with some nutty, jammy notes to balance it out. I’d drink more of this stuff, but it’s quite rare.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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