Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Belgrove Oat 3yo (Rum and Raisin)

Bonded International Series, Killowen bottler
Single grain - Tasmania
Amber brown, hints of green
59.42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, chocolate, raisins, walnut skins, oregano, fresh cut grass, hints of black pepper. With water, diesel exhaust, black pepper, chocolate. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, tingly, oily. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peanuts, raisins, walnut skins, thyme, diesel exhaust, autumn leaves, hints of ume. With water, raisins, autumn leaves, thyme, chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, diesel exhaust, raisins, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Green and herbal, but with underlying notes of raisins and chocolate. There also a bitter undertone, that I interpret as diesel exhaust and walnut skins. Perhaps a little too young.

Verdict:

I like this.

Singleton of Glendullan Golden Autumn Orchard

Singleton of Glendullan Golden Autumn Orchard

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Orange
41.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, apple juice, vanilla, honeycomb, cream, hints of ginger beer. 

Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, ginger beer, honeycomb, apple juice, cream, toffee, hints of maple syrup. 
Finish: Short. Honeycomb, malted grains, barley sugar, apple juice, hints of cinder toffee. 

Comments: 

Travel exclusive. It’s sweet and gingery, more apple than any other fruit. There’s a slight hint of smoke, and plenty of barley sugar. Straightforward and almost quaffable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Glen Scotia Double Cask Rich and Spicy

Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber red 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dates, prunes, jujubes, autumn leaves, leather, strawberry jam, lohan fruit, hints of black pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, tingly, loosens.  
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Lohan fruit, leather, pears, dried mangoes, peat, autumn leaves, hints of black pepper. 
Finish: Short. Strawberry jam, jujubes, leather, dates. 

Comments: 

Fruity and savoury, perhaps on the sweet side for a Campbeltown malt. On the tongue it reveals its true colours, peaty and earthy, with heaps of dried mangoes and pears.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Copenhagen Raw Edition No 5

Copenhagen Raw Edition No 5

Official bottling 
Single malt - Hovedstaden
Brown 
59.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, vanilla, oak chips, chocolate, cornflakes, maple syrup, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, chocolate, hay, maple syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Oak chips, vanilla, fresh cut grass, cocoa powder, maple syrup, white pepper, hints of cinnamon. With water, oak chips, coconut cream, cinnamon, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Short. Oak chips, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, cornflakes. 

Comments: 

Very cereally, woody and green, lots of spice on the tongue. It’s raw, alright, I’d guess aged in lightly seasoned wood, if that. Water creates sweeter notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

An Orkney Distillery 8yo 2012/2021

An Orkney Distillery 8yo 2012/2021

Watt Whisky, Campbeltown Whisky Company
Single malt - Islands
Pale gold 
57.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, lemon sweets, yoghurt, vanilla, cream, cardamom, cinnamon. With water, toast, yoghurt, cardamom, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinder toffee, cardamom, toast. With water, toast, cinnamon, lemon sweets. 
Finish: Short. Cinder toffee, cardamom, lemon juice, toast, autumn leaves. 

Comments: 

Heavy and citrusy, lots of semi toasted notes that waft like a haze of smoke over the whisky. Not a very usual Scapa in my experience, but a very good one.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch

Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch 

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Tennessee
Golden 
46.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: White pepper, white grapes, pencil erasers, honey, popcorn, hints of icing sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, cool. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cherries, cough syrup, white pepper, honey, cloves, hints of icing sugar. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, cloves, cough syrup, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Fruity, almost cough syrup like, with light pepper notes. I didn’t review the sourced spirits from Uncle Nearest, but the first make from their distillery that I’ve tried seems promising.

Verdict:

I like this.

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Official bottling 
Single rye - Heaven Hill
Amber copper
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rye bread, vanilla, black pepper, silicone rubber, pencil erasers, strawberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, hot, astringent.
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Black tea, black pepper, pencil erasers, strawberry jam, honey, damson jam. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, strawberry jam, damson jam, black pepper. 

Comments: 

Bready, slightly sulphurous rye from Heaven Hill, with fruity notes atop the sulphur and pepperiness. I’ve had more complex ryes, but this is easy drinking.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 22yo 1998/2021

Glenburgie 22yo 1998/2021

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden 
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinder toffee, yoghurt, cream, barley sugar, peppermint, hints of plums. With water, vanilla, cinder toffee, white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Yoghurt, lemon zest, cream, barley sugar, peppermint, white grapes, gooseberries, hints of coffee, hints of smoke. With water, coffee, cinder toffee, white grapes, hints of yoghurt. 

Finish: Medium. Cinder toffee, yoghurt, white grapes, lemon zest, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Cask 12601101. Bitter, lactic, smoky dram, with light notes of grapes, peppermint and gooseberries. Not as complex as the older Glenburgies, but still rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenburgie 31yo 1990/2021

Glenburgie 31yo 1990/2021

Connoisseur’s Choice Cask Strength, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Mahogany
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dried mangoes, black tea, raisins, cream, chocolate, coffee, icing sugar. With water, cream, raisins, blackberry jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, mouth coating, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Raisins, chocolate, coffee, dried mangoes, hazelnuts, icing sugar, malted grains, butterscotch, cinder toffee. With water, cream, raisins, cinder toffee, blackberry jam. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, coffee, chocolate, raisins, cream. 

Comments: 

Cask 12524. Excellent, a fruity slightly bitter dram with plenty of great things like dark chocolate and coffee. It’s sweet and rich, and very satisfying.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Pipe

Glencadam 17yo 2005/2022 Port Piper

Official bottling 

Single malt - East Highlands
Dark red 
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, raspberry jam, sandalwood, ginger snaps, toast, shortbread. With water, raspberry jam, orange peel, roses, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, mouth coating, airy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Blackcurrant cordial, chocolate, vanilla, cherries, ginger snaps, shortcrust pastry. With water, cherries, orange peel, raspberry jam, shortbread. 
Finish: Short. Shortcrust pastry, toast, chocolate, ginger snaps, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Cask 2788. Posh Ribena! Toasty, fruity and warm, with plenty of ginger biscuits on the nose and on the tongue. Water opens up a floral set of notes, roses predominate. Very nice dram indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.