Ryelaw Single Grain 2017/2022
Official bottling
Single rye - Lowlands
Amber
46.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Magic marker, pear drops, lemon zest, white pepper, sour cream, hints of green tea.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, cool, slightly slippery.
Tasting: Sour. Pear drops, lemon zest, brass polish, malted grains, white pepper, hints of sour cream.
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, vanilla, rye bread, gooseberries, lemon juice, hints of white pepper.
Comments:
Bottle AZ3501. Quite a tart whisky, and unusually sour for a rye whisky. Lots of fruit and cereal are present, but it’s overlaid by this strong, rather intense sour note. It’s lemon juice but also sour cream.
Verdict:
I like this.
Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Colonel EH Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey
Colonel EH Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey
Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Desiccated coconut, strawberries, raisins, black pepper, honey, rye bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, hot.
Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Desiccated coconut, strawberries, raisins, black pepper, honey, rye bread.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, airy, hot.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Brown paper, butterscotch, rye bread, strawberry jam, black pepper, toffee.
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, rye bread, desiccated coconut, hints of honey.
Comments:
Not too sweet, in fact it’s got a savoury edge to it, like desiccated coconut, lightly toasted with a pinch of salt. It’s got the standard black pepper and butterscotch, and it’s been bottled at a nice strength.
Verdict:
I like this.
Finish: Medium. Brown paper, rye bread, desiccated coconut, hints of honey.
Comments:
Not too sweet, in fact it’s got a savoury edge to it, like desiccated coconut, lightly toasted with a pinch of salt. It’s got the standard black pepper and butterscotch, and it’s been bottled at a nice strength.
Verdict:
I like this.
Monday, 6 November 2023
Drum Whisky Red Label
Drum Whisky Red Label
Official bottling
Single malt - Bali
Bright gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: New plastic, rubber bands, matches, white spirit, caramel, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, turns syrupy.
Tasting: Sour salty. Matches, vanilla, rubber bands, coffee, white spirit, butterscotch, hints of ginger.
Finish: Short. Vanilla, honey, coffee, white spirit.
Comments:
Plasticky and quite sulphurous. There’s something underneath all that - bittersweet coffee and a little ginger - but it’s rather one note.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Bali
Bright gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: New plastic, rubber bands, matches, white spirit, caramel, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, turns syrupy.
Tasting: Sour salty. Matches, vanilla, rubber bands, coffee, white spirit, butterscotch, hints of ginger.
Finish: Short. Vanilla, honey, coffee, white spirit.
Comments:
Plasticky and quite sulphurous. There’s something underneath all that - bittersweet coffee and a little ginger - but it’s rather one note.
Verdict:
I like this.
Saturday, 4 November 2023
Cadenhead Speyside 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
Cadenhead Speyside 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, honey, roast pork, cloves, soy sauce, winter melon, hints of wintergreen. With water, honey, milk chocolate, soy sauce, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, gooseberries, cloves, fresh baked bread, wintergreen, malted grains, hints of photocopy paper. With water, honey, coffee, gooseberries, hints of white grapes.
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, cloves, honey.
Comments:
Sweet yet meaty and savoury. I’d have said this was a blend if it hadn’t been labelled as a single malt - it’s got some characters that remind me of Caol Ila, as well as the herbal raisiny ‘Farclas, which of course it is.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Speyside
Amber
52.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, honey, roast pork, cloves, soy sauce, winter melon, hints of wintergreen. With water, honey, milk chocolate, soy sauce, cloves.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, syrupy, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Raisins, gooseberries, cloves, fresh baked bread, wintergreen, malted grains, hints of photocopy paper. With water, honey, coffee, gooseberries, hints of white grapes.
Finish: Long. Black tea, malted grains, cloves, honey.
Comments:
Sweet yet meaty and savoury. I’d have said this was a blend if it hadn’t been labelled as a single malt - it’s got some characters that remind me of Caol Ila, as well as the herbal raisiny ‘Farclas, which of course it is.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Campbeltown Loch 30yo
Campbeltown Loch 30yo
JA Mitchell & Co
Blended malt
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, sultanas, papayas, dried mangoes, leather, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, airy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Salty. Raisins, sea salt, Chinese angelica, dried mangoes, camphor, papayas, orange peel, hints of roast pork.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, dried mangoes, camphor, Chinese angelica.
Comments:
Herbal and sweet, lots of raisins - but it’s really quite salty on the tongue. Quite complex for a 40% blend, but I guess that’s the age. Very pleasant indeed, even if it lacks the power of the single malts.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
JA Mitchell & Co
Blended malt
Dark gold
40% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, sultanas, papayas, dried mangoes, leather, hints of roast pork.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, airy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Salty. Raisins, sea salt, Chinese angelica, dried mangoes, camphor, papayas, orange peel, hints of roast pork.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, dried mangoes, camphor, Chinese angelica.
Comments:
Herbal and sweet, lots of raisins - but it’s really quite salty on the tongue. Quite complex for a 40% blend, but I guess that’s the age. Very pleasant indeed, even if it lacks the power of the single malts.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Longrow 10yo Virtual Open Day 2020
Longrow 10yo Virtual Open Day 2020
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, red grapes, rubber bands, strawberry jam, raisins, petrichor, hints of smoke, hints of roast pork. With water, honey, camphor, raisins, Chinese angelica.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Red grapes, raisins, orange peel, sea salt, petrichor, autumn leaves, toast, smoke, hints of charcoal ash. With water, Chinese angelica, camphor, raisins, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Charcoal ash, smoke, autumn leaves, raisins, petrichor.
Comments:
Meaty and nutty, lots of herbal notes. There’s the typical Campbeltown earthiness, allied to smoke and ash. It’s a wonderful herbal concoction, reminds me of Chinese medicinal tonics I used to get fed as a child.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber
53.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, red grapes, rubber bands, strawberry jam, raisins, petrichor, hints of smoke, hints of roast pork. With water, honey, camphor, raisins, Chinese angelica.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Red grapes, raisins, orange peel, sea salt, petrichor, autumn leaves, toast, smoke, hints of charcoal ash. With water, Chinese angelica, camphor, raisins, orange peel.
Finish: Long. Charcoal ash, smoke, autumn leaves, raisins, petrichor.
Comments:
Meaty and nutty, lots of herbal notes. There’s the typical Campbeltown earthiness, allied to smoke and ash. It’s a wonderful herbal concoction, reminds me of Chinese medicinal tonics I used to get fed as a child.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Hazelburn 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
Hazelburn 18yo 2001/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Silvery gold
47.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, white grapes, gooseberries, peaches, hints of apricot jam.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sour. Photocopy paper, apricot jam, rubber bands, peaches, petrichor, fresh cut grass, hints of yoghurt.
Finish: Medium. Petrichor, fresh cut grass, autumn leaves, white grapes, hints of petrol exhaust.
Comments:
Lightly fruity, subtle with feinty and slightly sulphurous notes. A very delicate yet complex whisky. It rewards introspection, I spent a long time with this dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Silvery gold
47.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, white grapes, gooseberries, peaches, hints of apricot jam.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sour. Photocopy paper, apricot jam, rubber bands, peaches, petrichor, fresh cut grass, hints of yoghurt.
Finish: Medium. Petrichor, fresh cut grass, autumn leaves, white grapes, hints of petrol exhaust.
Comments:
Lightly fruity, subtle with feinty and slightly sulphurous notes. A very delicate yet complex whisky. It rewards introspection, I spent a long time with this dram.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Springbank 26yo 1993/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
Springbank 26yo 1993/2020 Virtual Open Day 2020
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Bright yellow gold
51.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, autumn leaves, petrichor, lemon zest, honey, charcoal ash, hints of peanuts. With water, white grapes, white wine, hints of gooseberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, slightly syrupy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pears, honey, charcoal ash, autumn leaves, diesel exhaust, peanuts, hints of white wine. With water, charcoal ash, smoke, pears, white grapes.
Finish: Long. Diesel exhaust, honey, charcoal ash, smoke, hints of strawberry laces.
Comments:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a Springbank. It’s smokier and ashier than I remember, but maybe this is a special one. Lots of white fruit swims underneath a veil of gritty ash. Unusual and potent.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Bright yellow gold
51.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Wet stones, autumn leaves, petrichor, lemon zest, honey, charcoal ash, hints of peanuts. With water, white grapes, white wine, hints of gooseberries.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, hot, slightly syrupy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Pears, honey, charcoal ash, autumn leaves, diesel exhaust, peanuts, hints of white wine. With water, charcoal ash, smoke, pears, white grapes.
Finish: Long. Diesel exhaust, honey, charcoal ash, smoke, hints of strawberry laces.
Comments:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a Springbank. It’s smokier and ashier than I remember, but maybe this is a special one. Lots of white fruit swims underneath a veil of gritty ash. Unusual and potent.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thursday, 2 November 2023
Speyside Single Malt (Macallan) 24yo 1995/2020
Speyside Single Malt (Macallan) 24yo 1995/2020
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pencil lead, brass polish, cherries, orange peel, camphor, cinnamon, strawberry laces.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, milk chocolate, cherries, pencil lead, malted grains, strawberry laces, hints of gooseberries.
Finish: Medium body. Milk chocolate, malted grains, cherries, black tea, strawberry laces.
Comments:
I don’t think very much of the official Macallans, at least nothing that warrants their mighty reputation. However, every so often I run into a whisky that confirms it. This is one of them. Slightly flinty with lots of sweet chocolate and fruit, several layers of complexity make it utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Pencil lead, brass polish, cherries, orange peel, camphor, cinnamon, strawberry laces.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Raisins, milk chocolate, cherries, pencil lead, malted grains, strawberry laces, hints of gooseberries.
Finish: Medium body. Milk chocolate, malted grains, cherries, black tea, strawberry laces.
Comments:
I don’t think very much of the official Macallans, at least nothing that warrants their mighty reputation. However, every so often I run into a whisky that confirms it. This is one of them. Slightly flinty with lots of sweet chocolate and fruit, several layers of complexity make it utterly delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Wednesday, 1 November 2023
Eagle Rare 17yo Small Batch
Eagle Rare 17yo Small Batch
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Red
50.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, strawberry jam, brown paper, bananas, camphor, hay, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, loosens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Strawberry laces, black pepper, camphor, brown paper, hay, honey, green tea, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Medium. Camphor, brown paper, hay, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of bananas.
Comments:
Complex, fruity, chockful of those alluring bourbon notes. There’s several layers to this - something grassy underneath the sweet, and something herbal as well. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
50.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, strawberry jam, brown paper, bananas, camphor, hay, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, loosens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Strawberry laces, black pepper, camphor, brown paper, hay, honey, green tea, hints of orange peel.
Finish: Medium. Camphor, brown paper, hay, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of bananas.
Comments:
Complex, fruity, chockful of those alluring bourbon notes. There’s several layers to this - something grassy underneath the sweet, and something herbal as well. Delicious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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