Old Forester Straight Bourbon
Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Light amber
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cooked rice, honey, molasses, bananas, vanilla, oak chips.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Molasses, oak chips, bananas, honey, vanilla, dark chocolate.
Finish: Short. Coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, molasses.
Comments:
A straightforward bourbon, lots of vanilla and banana notes. On the tongue, it’s a little more bitter than usual perhaps, and that bitterness continues onto the finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Friday, 10 October 2025
Thursday, 9 October 2025
Westland Colere 3rd Edition
Westland Colere 3rd Edition
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Dark green gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Preserved lemons, heather, hay, fresh cut grass, malted grains, honeydew melons, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, hot.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Preserved lemons, hay, fresh cut grass, honey, malted grains, peaches, hints of honeydew melons.
Finish: Short. Hay, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, peaches.
Comments:
Grassy with lots of citrus and honey. A mild, slightly savoury distillate, and it’s stripped back with only a little wood influence. Very interesting indeed.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Washington
Dark green gold
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Preserved lemons, heather, hay, fresh cut grass, malted grains, honeydew melons, white pepper.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, hot.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Preserved lemons, hay, fresh cut grass, honey, malted grains, peaches, hints of honeydew melons.
Finish: Short. Hay, lemon zest, honey, malted grains, peaches.
Comments:
Grassy with lots of citrus and honey. A mild, slightly savoury distillate, and it’s stripped back with only a little wood influence. Very interesting indeed.
Verdict:
I like this.
Arlett Single Malt Tourbe
Arlett Single Malt Tourbe
Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Pale gold
43% ABV
Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Pale gold
43% ABV
Dram
Nose: Mangoes, smoke, leather, lemon zest, photocopy paper, autumn leaves, nutmeg, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Germolene, autumn leaves, peaches, mangoes, orange peel, nutmeg, cloves, gauze bandages, hints of charcoal ash.
Finish: Medium. Gauze bandages, germolene, autumn leaves, mangoes, orange peel.
Comments:
Medicinal peat, with feinty, slightly chemical flavours. There’s also leather, and earthiness, but also tropical fruit and spice. A very interesting whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Nose: Mangoes, smoke, leather, lemon zest, photocopy paper, autumn leaves, nutmeg, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Germolene, autumn leaves, peaches, mangoes, orange peel, nutmeg, cloves, gauze bandages, hints of charcoal ash.
Finish: Medium. Gauze bandages, germolene, autumn leaves, mangoes, orange peel.
Comments:
Medicinal peat, with feinty, slightly chemical flavours. There’s also leather, and earthiness, but also tropical fruit and spice. A very interesting whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Arlett Finition Barbados Rhum Cask
Arlett Finition Barbados Rhum Cask
Official bottling
Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Pale orange gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Mangoes, photocopy paper, peaches, white pepper, nectarines, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, peaches, nectarines, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Short. Mangoes, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon.
Comments:
This whisky is well made, with the funky rum and tropical fruit flavours very clearly defined. Lots of peaches and nectarines as well. One of the best rum casks I’ve had.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Pale orange gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Mangoes, photocopy paper, peaches, white pepper, nectarines, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Mangoes, peaches, nectarines, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of pineapples.
Finish: Short. Mangoes, bananas, Demerara sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon.
Comments:
This whisky is well made, with the funky rum and tropical fruit flavours very clearly defined. Lots of peaches and nectarines as well. One of the best rum casks I’ve had.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Tuesday, 7 October 2025
Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018 Single Cask Handfill
Aberfeldy 17yo 2001/2018
Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
54.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, cherries, roast chicken, malts grains, menthol, hints of eucalyptus. With water, damson jam, cherries, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Leather, menthol, eucalyptus, roast chicken, raisins, orange peel, fresh baked bread, damson jam. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, damson jam.
Finish: Medium. Leather, autumn leaves, roast chicken, raisins.
Comments:
A rich, herbal Aberfeldy, lots of leather and orange peel. It’s sherried, of course, so lots of raisins and jam too, but there’s a nice meaty savouriness especially on the finish. Lovely.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Golden
54.8% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cola nuts, orange peel, cherries, roast chicken, malts grains, menthol, hints of eucalyptus. With water, damson jam, cherries, raisins.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, hot, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Leather, menthol, eucalyptus, roast chicken, raisins, orange peel, fresh baked bread, damson jam. With water, fresh baked bread, menthol, damson jam.
Finish: Medium. Leather, autumn leaves, roast chicken, raisins.
Comments:
A rich, herbal Aberfeldy, lots of leather and orange peel. It’s sherried, of course, so lots of raisins and jam too, but there’s a nice meaty savouriness especially on the finish. Lovely.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish
Aberfeldy 25yo Sherry Cask Finish
Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber orange
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, fresh baked bread, cloves, hints of violets.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, cherries, damson jam, hints of violets, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, pruneaux, raisins, orange peel, cloves.
Comments:
Fragrant and floral, lots of sweet winey notes, it’s almost like an armagnac. No need for water, it’s utterly delicious as it is. It builds to a long bready finish, and only then does it remind me of whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Central Highlands
Amber orange
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, fresh baked bread, cloves, hints of violets.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, oily, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Orange peel, raisins, pruneaux, rose water, cherries, damson jam, hints of violets, hints of fresh baked bread.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, pruneaux, raisins, orange peel, cloves.
Comments:
Fragrant and floral, lots of sweet winey notes, it’s almost like an armagnac. No need for water, it’s utterly delicious as it is. It builds to a long bready finish, and only then does it remind me of whisky.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 3 October 2025
Girvan 19yo 2002/2022
Girvan 19yo 2002/2022
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, vanilla, oak chips, lemon zest, hints of smoke, hints of gooseberries. With water, oak chips, molasses, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, corn syrup, white pepper, oak chips, malted grains, popcorn, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, lemon zest, popcorn.
Finish: Medium. Photocopy paper, sandalwood, popcorn, toffee, hints of desiccated coconut.
Comments:
Cask DL 16487. Floral and woody, with plenty of popcorn, and perhaps a touch of smoke. Water brings out more vanilla, more wood and even more popcorn. Decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber
51.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: White pepper, sandalwood, vanilla, oak chips, lemon zest, hints of smoke, hints of gooseberries. With water, oak chips, molasses, hints of smoke.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Vanilla, corn syrup, white pepper, oak chips, malted grains, popcorn, lemon zest. With water, vanilla, lemon zest, popcorn.
Finish: Medium. Photocopy paper, sandalwood, popcorn, toffee, hints of desiccated coconut.
Comments:
Cask DL 16487. Floral and woody, with plenty of popcorn, and perhaps a touch of smoke. Water brings out more vanilla, more wood and even more popcorn. Decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
The Story Of Bourbon
The Story Of Bourbon
The Story Of
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
42% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, caramel, oak chips, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Orange peel, vanilla, honey, chocolate, oak chips, hints of bananas.
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, black tea, vanilla, caramel, hints of orange peel.
Comments:
A lower proof version of an earlier bottle. It’s still rather orangey but maybe more chocolate, and the wood is more prominent. Still rather good.
Verdict:
I like this.
The Story Of
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Copper
42% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, peanuts, vanilla, caramel, oak chips, orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, slippery.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Orange peel, vanilla, honey, chocolate, oak chips, hints of bananas.
Finish: Medium. Oak chips, black tea, vanilla, caramel, hints of orange peel.
Comments:
A lower proof version of an earlier bottle. It’s still rather orangey but maybe more chocolate, and the wood is more prominent. Still rather good.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 2 October 2025
Glenallachie 12yo Sauternes Wine Cask Finish
Glenallachie 12yo Sauternes Wine Cask Finish
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark orange gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, bananas, white wine, white grapes, toffee, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Toffee, black tea, nutmeg, orange peel, yoghurt, burnt sugar, hints of bananas.
Finish: Short. Black tea, burnt sugar, aluminium foil, white grapes.
Comments:
Sweet and creamy, lots of grape notes. It’s slightly lactic on the tongue, the Sauternes cask doesn’t hide that. Plenty of toffee and burnt sugar too. Decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark orange gold
48% ABV
Dram
Nose: Cream, yoghurt, bananas, white wine, white grapes, toffee, hints of orange peel.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Toffee, black tea, nutmeg, orange peel, yoghurt, burnt sugar, hints of bananas.
Finish: Short. Black tea, burnt sugar, aluminium foil, white grapes.
Comments:
Sweet and creamy, lots of grape notes. It’s slightly lactic on the tongue, the Sauternes cask doesn’t hide that. Plenty of toffee and burnt sugar too. Decent dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025
Longrow 10yo Open Day 2025
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber brown
55.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Winter melons, lemon zest, raisins, green tea, leather, lemon zest, pine needles, hints of germolene. With water, apricot jam, pine needles, lemon zest, germolene.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon zest, raisins, fresh cut grass, green tea, apricot jam, germolene, peat, autumn leaves. With water, lemon zest, pine needles, autumn leaves, germolene.
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, green tea, fresh cut grass, germolene.
Comments:
Herbal and autumnal, lots of forest flavours! There is citrus and apricot also, and it’s all wreathed with gentle peat. A very good dram indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Campbeltown
Amber brown
55.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: Winter melons, lemon zest, raisins, green tea, leather, lemon zest, pine needles, hints of germolene. With water, apricot jam, pine needles, lemon zest, germolene.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon zest, raisins, fresh cut grass, green tea, apricot jam, germolene, peat, autumn leaves. With water, lemon zest, pine needles, autumn leaves, germolene.
Finish: Long. Lemon zest, green tea, fresh cut grass, germolene.
Comments:
Herbal and autumnal, lots of forest flavours! There is citrus and apricot also, and it’s all wreathed with gentle peat. A very good dram indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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