Glenflagler 24yo 1972/1997
Silent Stills, Signatory
Single malt - Lowlands
Bright gold
52% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honeydew melons, leather, celery salt, bananas, lemon zest, honey, hints of smoke. With water, white grapes, lemon zest, carrot cake.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, tingly.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Leather, celery salt, lemon zest, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, shoe polish, hints of nectarines. With water, honeydew melons, kiwifruit, nectarines, leather.
Finish: Medium. Kiwifruit, celery salt, lemon zest, hints of shoe polish.
Comments:
Cask 228444. Finally found another dram of this unicorn distillery. Lots of kiwifruit and melon, with some chemical bitterness (probably OBE). It’s nicer than it’s non-cask strength siblings. Complex and demanding dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sunday, 25 June 2023
Friday, 23 June 2023
The Lakes The One Fine Blended Whisky
The Lakes The One Fine Blended Whisky
Lakes bottler
Blended malt
Amber
46.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, orange peel, rum and raisins, malted grains, cloves, hints of shortcrust pastry.
Lakes bottler
Blended malt
Amber
46.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, orange peel, rum and raisins, malted grains, cloves, hints of shortcrust pastry.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, cool, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, black tea, cloves, toffee, honey, nutmeg, hints of applesauce.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, black tea, raisins, toffee.
Comments:
Indeed, it’s a fine blend. Lots of fruit and spicy grains, the core of this is of course Lakes’ lovely single malt. But there’s Scotch in here too, particularly the gentle toffee’d grain. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Orange peel, malted grains, black tea, cloves, toffee, honey, nutmeg, hints of applesauce.
Finish: Long. Malted grains, black tea, raisins, toffee.
Comments:
Indeed, it’s a fine blend. Lots of fruit and spicy grains, the core of this is of course Lakes’ lovely single malt. But there’s Scotch in here too, particularly the gentle toffee’d grain. Quite delicious.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023
Chichibu 7yo 2013/2023
Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow gold
57.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, mangoes, kiwifruit, lemon zest, green apples, burnt sugar, hints of nutmeg. With water, ice cream soda, green apples, mangoes, mangoes, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, malted grains, burnt sugar, green apples, vanilla, ice cream soda, passionfruit. With water, peaches, mangoes, green apples, cinder toffee.
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, burnt sugar, apple juice, cinder toffee, hints of charcoal ash.
Comments:
Cask 3090. Brilliant stuff, obviously spent some time in a plastic vessel, but for all that it’s still fruity and toffee’s, with a hint of crisp green apple and charcoal ash at the end to keep it interesting. Thank you Hopscotch Whisky Bar for this taste.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Selection, Adelphi
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow gold
57.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, mangoes, kiwifruit, lemon zest, green apples, burnt sugar, hints of nutmeg. With water, ice cream soda, green apples, mangoes, mangoes, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, hot, loosens.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, malted grains, burnt sugar, green apples, vanilla, ice cream soda, passionfruit. With water, peaches, mangoes, green apples, cinder toffee.
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, burnt sugar, apple juice, cinder toffee, hints of charcoal ash.
Comments:
Cask 3090. Brilliant stuff, obviously spent some time in a plastic vessel, but for all that it’s still fruity and toffee’s, with a hint of crisp green apple and charcoal ash at the end to keep it interesting. Thank you Hopscotch Whisky Bar for this taste.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Saturday, 17 June 2023
Three Ships 6yo Batch 1
Three Ships 6yo Batch 1
That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Western Cape
Amber
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, red grapes, cloves, honey, Armagnac, hints of orange peel. With water, raisins, black tea, cocoa nibs, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, loosens, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, hay, fresh baked bread, vanilla, red grapes, Armagnac, honey. With water, cocoa nibs, red grapes, cloves, raisins.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, red grapes, malted grains, raisins, fresh baked bread.
Comments:
A very brandy-like whisky, probably as a result of a good first fill cask and aging in a warmer environment. Very sweet and spicy, except for some maltiness on the finish I would have said this was brandy.
Verdict:
I like this.
That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - Western Cape
Amber
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, red grapes, cloves, honey, Armagnac, hints of orange peel. With water, raisins, black tea, cocoa nibs, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, slippery, loosens, warm.
Tasting: Sweet. Raisins, hay, fresh baked bread, vanilla, red grapes, Armagnac, honey. With water, cocoa nibs, red grapes, cloves, raisins.
Finish: Long. Black pepper, red grapes, malted grains, raisins, fresh baked bread.
Comments:
A very brandy-like whisky, probably as a result of a good first fill cask and aging in a warmer environment. Very sweet and spicy, except for some maltiness on the finish I would have said this was brandy.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 15 June 2023
Ardbeg Hypernova
Ardbeg Hypernova
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Bright gold
51% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, leather, lemon sweets, peat, pears, butterscotch, raisins, hints of apples.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter. Leather, smoke, lemon sweets, peat, apples, butterscotch, raisins, yoghurt, hints of cocoa nibs.
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, raisins, lemon sweets, smoke.
Comments:
Supposedly more peaty than the Supernova, but it’s still sweet and refreshing. The chocolate is less robust than other Ardbegs, becoming bitter cocoa, and there’s. a fair bit of lemon sweets.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Bright gold
51% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, leather, lemon sweets, peat, pears, butterscotch, raisins, hints of apples.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter. Leather, smoke, lemon sweets, peat, apples, butterscotch, raisins, yoghurt, hints of cocoa nibs.
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, raisins, lemon sweets, smoke.
Comments:
Supposedly more peaty than the Supernova, but it’s still sweet and refreshing. The chocolate is less robust than other Ardbegs, becoming bitter cocoa, and there’s. a fair bit of lemon sweets.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dailuaine 24yo 1997/2022
Dailuaine 24yo 1997/2022
Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
57.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, peaches, apple juice, honey. With water, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, cedar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slippery, airy.
Tasting: Sweet. Apple juice, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, white wine, vanilla, golden syrup. With water, black tea, cocoa nibs, raisins, cedar wood.
Finish: Long. Black tea, white wine, fresh baked bread, vanilla, golden syrup.
Comments:
Cask 7764 + 7765. Sweet and honeyed, but also spiced. The ABV is rather high, and it takes water very well. Good cask, I’m not sure I can taste the distillate so much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Vintage, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside
Amber gold
57.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, sandalwood, fresh baked bread, peaches, apple juice, honey. With water, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, cedar.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slippery, airy.
Tasting: Sweet. Apple juice, fresh baked bread, raisins, honey, white wine, vanilla, golden syrup. With water, black tea, cocoa nibs, raisins, cedar wood.
Finish: Long. Black tea, white wine, fresh baked bread, vanilla, golden syrup.
Comments:
Cask 7764 + 7765. Sweet and honeyed, but also spiced. The ABV is rather high, and it takes water very well. Good cask, I’m not sure I can taste the distillate so much.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Daftmill 11yo 2010/2021 for Daftmill Distillery (unofficial fans group)
Daftmill 11yo 2010/2021 for Daftmill Distillery (unofficial fans group)
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold
59.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, apricot jam, lemon sweets, white grapes, hints of roses, hints of tea tree oil. With water, leather, apricot jam, jasmine, tea tree oil.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apricot jam, lemon sweets, nectarines, orange peel, toffee apples, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, fresh baked bread, apricot jam, jasmine, black tea, mint.
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, raisins, white grapes, lemon sweets.
Comments:
Cask 046, 047, 050, 051 and 056/2010. Lovely and sweet, less herbal than some other Daftmills, but with a recognisable stone fruit, jammy quality.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Pale gold
59.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, apricot jam, lemon sweets, white grapes, hints of roses, hints of tea tree oil. With water, leather, apricot jam, jasmine, tea tree oil.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Apricot jam, lemon sweets, nectarines, orange peel, toffee apples, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, fresh baked bread, apricot jam, jasmine, black tea, mint.
Finish: Short. Fresh baked bread, raisins, white grapes, lemon sweets.
Comments:
Cask 046, 047, 050, 051 and 056/2010. Lovely and sweet, less herbal than some other Daftmills, but with a recognisable stone fruit, jammy quality.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe
Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe
Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cherries, almonds, orange peel, roses, raisins, hints of black tea.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cherries, cough mixture, orange peel, almonds, aluminium foil, black tea, hints of honey.
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, cough mixture, cinnamon, honey.
Comments:
Delicious rye, lots of spicy cherry flavours, with a metallic tang. Normally, that would be a detractor, but in this case it enhancing. Unusual and tasty whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cherries, almonds, orange peel, roses, raisins, hints of black tea.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cherries, cough mixture, orange peel, almonds, aluminium foil, black tea, hints of honey.
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, cough mixture, cinnamon, honey.
Comments:
Delicious rye, lots of spicy cherry flavours, with a metallic tang. Normally, that would be a detractor, but in this case it enhancing. Unusual and tasty whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Speyside distillery 23yo 1992/2015
Speyside distillery 23yo 1992/2015
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
56.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, camomile, green tea, aluminium foil, honey, hints of sandalwood. With water, peaches, fresh cut grass, green tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White pepper, honey, sandalwood, apricot jam, honey, camomile, cornflakes. With water, green tea, honey, camomile, hints of cornflakes.
Finish: Short. Camomile, green tea, sandalwood, honey.
Comments:
Cask 1. Obviously bottled some time ago and perhaps rebottled for Milroy’s. Spicy and with quite a lot of light herbal sweetness. A very nice example of this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Soho Selection, Milroy’s of Soho
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
56.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peaches, camomile, green tea, aluminium foil, honey, hints of sandalwood. With water, peaches, fresh cut grass, green tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns syrupy, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White pepper, honey, sandalwood, apricot jam, honey, camomile, cornflakes. With water, green tea, honey, camomile, hints of cornflakes.
Finish: Short. Camomile, green tea, sandalwood, honey.
Comments:
Cask 1. Obviously bottled some time ago and perhaps rebottled for Milroy’s. Spicy and with quite a lot of light herbal sweetness. A very nice example of this distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Sunday, 11 June 2023
East London Liquor Co Single Malt
East London Liquor Co Single Malt
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Sunshine yellow
Official bottling
Single malt - London
Sunshine yellow
47% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, hoppy beer, grapefruit, kiwifruit, hints of green tea, hints of honey.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Malted grains, honey, hoppy beer, grapefruit, leather, pears, hints of new plastic.
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, pears, honey, hints of white pepper, hints of new plastic.
Comments:
Tart, fruity, bitter and… plasticky? Not sure it was quite ready, but it’s certainly promising. Will have another dibble if there’s one released with an age statement in the future.
Verdict:
I like this.
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, hoppy beer, grapefruit, kiwifruit, hints of green tea, hints of honey.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Malted grains, honey, hoppy beer, grapefruit, leather, pears, hints of new plastic.
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, pears, honey, hints of white pepper, hints of new plastic.
Comments:
Tart, fruity, bitter and… plasticky? Not sure it was quite ready, but it’s certainly promising. Will have another dibble if there’s one released with an age statement in the future.
Verdict:
I like this.
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