The Orientalist 8yo
The Orientalist
Blended malt - Multi-country
Amber, hints of gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, honey, cocoa nibs, vanilla, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, tingly, cool.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Golden syrup, raisins, vanilla, fresh baked bread, lemon juice, salt caramel.
Finish: Medium. Cocoa nibs, vanilla, milk chocolate, black tea.
Comments:
A blend of malt from Japan, Taiwan and India, the three Asian whisky powerhouses. It’s salty sweet, lots of sweet fruity notes abound. But it’s not really that complex.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 11 September 2023
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
Komagatake 2021 Edition
Komagatake 2021 Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Camphor, honey, overripe peaches, mangoes, orange peel, hints of bananas.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, turns watery.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, orange peel, mangoes, nutmeg, hints of burnt sugar.
Finish: Short. Burnt sugar, nutmeg, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of camphor.
Comments:
Earthy camphor covers a heap of tropical fruit, mainly mangoes and bananas. Plenty of spices too, dominated by nutmeg. It’s good and unbalanced, in a good way. Lots of layers with waves of flavour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Camphor, honey, overripe peaches, mangoes, orange peel, hints of bananas.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, turns watery.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Honey, fresh baked bread, orange peel, mangoes, nutmeg, hints of burnt sugar.
Finish: Short. Burnt sugar, nutmeg, lemon zest, orange peel, hints of camphor.
Comments:
Earthy camphor covers a heap of tropical fruit, mainly mangoes and bananas. Plenty of spices too, dominated by nutmeg. It’s good and unbalanced, in a good way. Lots of layers with waves of flavour.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Filey Bay Double Oak #2
Filey Bay Double Oak #2
Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire
Amber
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, curry leaves, black pepper, lemon juice, green tea, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange peel, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon juice, orange sherbet, hints of green tea.
Finish: Short. Orange sherbet, green tea, cinnamon, black pepper, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets.
Comments:
Sweet, citrusy distillate, some tannins, and a little intriguing, nutty, curry leaf. It’s rather good for something so young, and doesn’t suffer with dilution. Quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Yorkshire
Amber
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, curry leaves, black pepper, lemon juice, green tea, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Orange peel, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon juice, orange sherbet, hints of green tea.
Finish: Short. Orange sherbet, green tea, cinnamon, black pepper, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets.
Comments:
Sweet, citrusy distillate, some tannins, and a little intriguing, nutty, curry leaf. It’s rather good for something so young, and doesn’t suffer with dilution. Quite enjoyable.
Verdict:
I like this.
Fleurieu 3yo Batch 2
Fleurieu 3yo Batch 2
That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - South Australia
Orange red
65% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, honey, marmalade, strawberries, cream, fresh baked bread. With water, toast, white pepper, marmalade, honey.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, marmalade, toast, cinnamon, white pepper, lemon juice, hints of vanilla. With water, fresh baked bread, marmalade, honey, vanilla.
Finish: Long. White pepper, lemon juice, marmalade, toast.
Comments:
Highly sherried (Apera’d?), it’s picked up a lot of cask flavour. Lots of jammy sweet notes, but also plenty of peppery kick. Quite pleasant, but it’s got raw edges.
Verdict:
I like this.
That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single malt - South Australia
Orange red
65% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, honey, marmalade, strawberries, cream, fresh baked bread. With water, toast, white pepper, marmalade, honey.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honey, marmalade, toast, cinnamon, white pepper, lemon juice, hints of vanilla. With water, fresh baked bread, marmalade, honey, vanilla.
Finish: Long. White pepper, lemon juice, marmalade, toast.
Comments:
Highly sherried (Apera’d?), it’s picked up a lot of cask flavour. Lots of jammy sweet notes, but also plenty of peppery kick. Quite pleasant, but it’s got raw edges.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 30 August 2023
Drum Whisky Black Label
Drum Whisky Black Label
Official bottling
Single malt - Bali
Yellow gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Caramel, toffee, new plastic, orange juice, matches, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Matches, caramel, burnt sugar, butterscotch, kombucha, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Short. Sourdough bread, matches, butterscotch, toffee, burnt sugar.
Comments:
I did not know that Indonesia made whisky. This one is fairly straightforward, and it’s also one without any tartrazine in it. Some tart notes, wreathed through with sulphur and toffee.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Bali
Yellow gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Caramel, toffee, new plastic, orange juice, matches, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Matches, caramel, burnt sugar, butterscotch, kombucha, hints of vanilla.
Finish: Short. Sourdough bread, matches, butterscotch, toffee, burnt sugar.
Comments:
I did not know that Indonesia made whisky. This one is fairly straightforward, and it’s also one without any tartrazine in it. Some tart notes, wreathed through with sulphur and toffee.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 11 August 2023
Ardbeg 14yo 2008/2023
Ardbeg 14yo 2008/2023
Cut Your Wolf Loose, Woolf Sung
Single malt - Islay
Amber
63.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, orange peel, pears, lemon zest, golden syrup, hints of dark chocolate. With water, smoke, dark chocolate, orange peel, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, smoke, honey, toffee, pears, raisins, molasses. With water, smoke, leather, dark chocolate, cloves.
Finish: Long. Pears, smoke, golden syrup, leather, hints of peat.
Comments:
Lovely Ardbeg from the famous Brighton bar. It’s sweet and chocolatey, quite quintessentially Ardbeg for me. There’s other stuff - bitter dark molasses, fragrant cloves - that make this very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Cut Your Wolf Loose, Woolf Sung
Single malt - Islay
Amber
63.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Smoke, peat, orange peel, pears, lemon zest, golden syrup, hints of dark chocolate. With water, smoke, dark chocolate, orange peel, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Dark chocolate, smoke, honey, toffee, pears, raisins, molasses. With water, smoke, leather, dark chocolate, cloves.
Finish: Long. Pears, smoke, golden syrup, leather, hints of peat.
Comments:
Lovely Ardbeg from the famous Brighton bar. It’s sweet and chocolatey, quite quintessentially Ardbeg for me. There’s other stuff - bitter dark molasses, fragrant cloves - that make this very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Balmenach 10yo 2011/2022
Balmenach 10yo 2011/2022
Casks of Distinction, Lady of the Glen
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
56.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, green apples, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, grapefruit, hints of vanilla. With water, yoghurt, green apples, grapefruit, raisins, toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Green apples, grapefruit, dark chocolate, toast, toffee, cocoa nibs, hints of sour cherries. With water, green apples, raisins, toffee, cinnamon, yoghurt.
Finish: Medium. Raisins, butterscotch, cocoa nibs, sour cherries.
Comments:
Cask 417. Fruity and bright Balmenach, with some darker, more bitter notes lurking underneath. Slightly unbalanced - more tart than sweet - but interesting and sparked discussion.
Verdict:
I like this.
Casks of Distinction, Lady of the Glen
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
56.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, green apples, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, grapefruit, hints of vanilla. With water, yoghurt, green apples, grapefruit, raisins, toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Green apples, grapefruit, dark chocolate, toast, toffee, cocoa nibs, hints of sour cherries. With water, green apples, raisins, toffee, cinnamon, yoghurt.
Finish: Medium. Raisins, butterscotch, cocoa nibs, sour cherries.
Comments:
Cask 417. Fruity and bright Balmenach, with some darker, more bitter notes lurking underneath. Slightly unbalanced - more tart than sweet - but interesting and sparked discussion.
Verdict:
I like this.
Port Charlotte SYC:01 2006
Port Charlotte SYC:01 2006
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
60.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, honey, apple juice, leather, peat, driftwood smoke, cream, hints of greengages. With water, honey, cooked rice, smoke, cocoa nibs, cream.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, driftwood smoke, leather, apple juice, cooked rice, cinnamon, sandalwood. With water, peat, new plastic, honey, cooked rice.
Finish: Long. Raisins, cooked rice, honey, cocoa nibs, driftwood smoke.
Comments:
Sweet, but with a peaty, smoky, bitter edge. So far, so expected. The creaminess was something that I did not expect, however, and it was very pleasant. Water unfortunately didn’t improve it, bringing a slightly acrid plasticky note to the fore.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
60.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, honey, apple juice, leather, peat, driftwood smoke, cream, hints of greengages. With water, honey, cooked rice, smoke, cocoa nibs, cream.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Peat, driftwood smoke, leather, apple juice, cooked rice, cinnamon, sandalwood. With water, peat, new plastic, honey, cooked rice.
Finish: Long. Raisins, cooked rice, honey, cocoa nibs, driftwood smoke.
Comments:
Sweet, but with a peaty, smoky, bitter edge. So far, so expected. The creaminess was something that I did not expect, however, and it was very pleasant. Water unfortunately didn’t improve it, bringing a slightly acrid plasticky note to the fore.
Verdict:
I like this.
Auchroisk 14yo 2008/2022 Cigar Malt Edition
Auchroisk 14yo 2008/2022 Cigar Malt Edition
Single Cask Family Series, The Single Cask
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red
55.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, molasses, toffee, butterscotch, strawberry jam, hints of sage, hints of camphor. With water, marmalade, butterscotch, honey, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Toffee, honey, strawberry jam, marmalade, sage, fresh cut grass, camphor. With water, marmalade, camphor, cooked rice, honey.
Finish: Medium. Honey, toffee, marmalade, cooked rice.
Comments:
Cask 806008B. Oily, sherried dram, it would be perfect with a cigar if I still smoked. There’s some interesting cereal notes too. Still that lingering, earthy camphor, I had to double check that it wasn’t the previous dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Single Cask Family Series, The Single Cask
Single malt - Speyside
Amber red
55.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, molasses, toffee, butterscotch, strawberry jam, hints of sage, hints of camphor. With water, marmalade, butterscotch, honey, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Toffee, honey, strawberry jam, marmalade, sage, fresh cut grass, camphor. With water, marmalade, camphor, cooked rice, honey.
Finish: Medium. Honey, toffee, marmalade, cooked rice.
Comments:
Cask 806008B. Oily, sherried dram, it would be perfect with a cigar if I still smoked. There’s some interesting cereal notes too. Still that lingering, earthy camphor, I had to double check that it wasn’t the previous dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ardmore 11yo 2009/2021
Ardmore 11yo 2009/2021
The Single Cask
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
55.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, apple juice, heather, germolene, leather, petrichor, hints of wet stones. With water, honey, apple juice, apricot jam, sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Apple juice, sandalwood, apricot jam, petrichor, wet stones, autumn leaves, leather. With water, sandalwood, leather, apricot jam, camphor, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Germolene, malted grains, apricot jam, leather.
Comments:
Cask 709249. Ardmore, but with the peat a little stronger. It’s sweet but earthy, with a lot of camphor, but also apricot jam and some sandalwood. A good session dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
The Single Cask
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
55.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Honey, apple juice, heather, germolene, leather, petrichor, hints of wet stones. With water, honey, apple juice, apricot jam, sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, oily.
Tasting: Sweet. Apple juice, sandalwood, apricot jam, petrichor, wet stones, autumn leaves, leather. With water, sandalwood, leather, apricot jam, camphor, black tea.
Finish: Medium. Germolene, malted grains, apricot jam, leather.
Comments:
Cask 709249. Ardmore, but with the peat a little stronger. It’s sweet but earthy, with a lot of camphor, but also apricot jam and some sandalwood. A good session dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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