Williamson 10yo 2013/2023 (Milroy’s of Soho Exclusive)

Williamson 10yo 2013/2023 (Milroy’s of Soho Exclusive)

Berry Bros & Rudd
Single malt - Islay
Amber gold 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Iodine, orange peel, strawberry jam, menthol, leather, smoke. With water, orange peel, peaches, menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, syrupy, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Iodine, germolene, leather, smoke, orange peel, rye bread, bran flakes, peat. With water, black tea, iodine, honey, raisins. 
Finish: Short. Rye bread, bran flakes, leather, raisins. 

Comments: 

A rather sweet Laphroaig, but it’s a cereal sweetness target than a fruity sweetness. In fact there’s plenty of cereal notes, including some spicy rye (oddly). Tasty and engaging dram. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Suntory Pure Malt Whisky “Yamazaki” 1983

Suntory Pure Malt Whisky “Yamazaki” 1983

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast chicken, sea salt, honey, raisins, cinder toffee, hints of nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, expands, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Raisins, roast chicken, honey, raisins, milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Medium. Milk chocolate, roast chicken, honey, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

This is the first (or one of the very first) Yamazaki single malts bottled, way back in 1983. It’s surprisingly savoury, and I’ve always believed that Yamazaki has a savoury note until it’s gets buried under all that sherry. I feel vindicated :).

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Fuji Gotemba 17yo Small Batch

Fuji Gotemba 17yo Small Batch

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, peanuts, pear drops, vanilla, orange peel, hints of green tea. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Magic marker, yoghurt, pear drops, orange peel, lemon zest, honey, sultanas. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, magic marker, pear drops, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Quite estery, reminiscent of nail varnish, with a good, enjoyable, floral overtone. It’s light and refreshing as well, wearing its age lightly.

Verdict:

I like this.

Indri Trini Three Wood

Indri Trini Three Wood

Official bottling 
Single malt - Haryana
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, orange juice, vanilla, lemon zest, sultanas, hints of honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, orange juice, cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, sultanas. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, orange juice, cream, brown sugar. 

Comments: 

Quite citrusy and sweet. Not what I expected, it’s quite fresh and not too intense for an Indian whisky. It’s surprisingly refreshing and gentle.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Ontake Single Malt First Edition

Ontake Single Malt First Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber pink
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, rubber bands, fried eggs, orange peel, cinder toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Fried eggs, yoghurt, strawberry laces, cinder toffee, honey, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Raisins, cinder toffee, honey, strawberry laces. 

Comments: 

Rather sulphurous, for a sherried malt. The fried egg and cinder toffee notes are quite evident and dominate the flavours. It’s quite straightforward and simple.

Verdict:

I like this.

Fuji Single Malt

Fuji Single Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, photocopy paper, toffee, cooked rice, green apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, photocopy paper, lemon zest, green apples, malted grains, hints of cream. 
Finish: Short. Cream, honey, malted grains, photocopy paper. 

Comments: 

Quite light, a little creamy. The flavours are muted and not very intense. A very gentle, entry level malt.

Verdict:

I like this.

Highwayman The Dark Side

Highwayman The Dark Side

Official bottling 
Single malt - New South Wales
Mahogany 
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, farmyard, honey, winter melon, white pepper, dark chocolate, hints of orange peel. With water, vanilla, cocoa nibs, raisins, hints of peanuts. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peanuts, honeycomb, peat, hay, fresh cut grass, raisins, dark chocolate, photocopy paper, hints of coffee. With water, raisins, peanuts, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, honeycomb, raisins, peat. 

Comments: 

Really sweet, peated dram. The high proof is good, brings out some feinty notes that would otherwise be lost in the layers of flavour. I’ve not had anything from this distillery before, but the juice is nice and the branding attractive.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ki One Batch 2 Distiller’s Edition

Ki One Batch 2 Distiller’s Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Gyeonggi
Amber brown
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, cooked rice, boiled eggs, honey, hints of nutmeg. With water, nutmeg, rubber bands, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, tingly, slightly oily. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Honey, white pepper, rubber bands, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of new plastic. With water, nutmeg, honey, new plastic. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, orange peel, rubber bands, white pepper. 

Comments: 

First South Korean whisky! It’s quite unusual, floral and woody, but with a plasticky note (especially with a little water) that implies a very young age. It’s only about 3 years old too.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Tsunuki 7th Anniversary Local Barley

Mars Tsunuki 7th Anniversary Local Barley

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, apple juice, clay dust, cinnamon, hints of mint. With water, apple juice, malted grains, hints of menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, honey, apple juice, strawberry jam, hoppy beer, hints of magic marker, hints of clay dust. With water, apple juice, clay dust, hoppy beer. 
Finish: Medium. Apple juice, hoppy beer, honey, strawberry jam, hints of magic marker. 

Comments: 

Very malty appley dram, just the sort of whisky I like. It’s a little bit dusty, perhaps a sign of age in my experience. It’s quite estery on the finish too. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Osuzu Malt Chestnut Barrel Local Barley

Osuzu Malt Chestnut Barrel Local Barley

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, pears, vanilla, honey, starfruit, cream, hints of guavas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, slippery, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Sandalwood, pears, starfruit, guavas, green tea, ginseng, hints of camphor. 
Finish: Medium. Camphor, ginseng, pears, starfruit. 

Comments: 

Sweet and fragrant, very estery. Lots of floral, slightly woody notes too. Lots of bitter herbal notes on the finish. I do like this, but it’s probably not for everyone. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.