Paul John Brilliance

Paul John Brilliance

Official bottling  
Single malt - Goa
Dark gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, honey, vanilla, hay, bread, hints of apple. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, smooth, watery. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Cream, honey, hay, walnuts, peanuts, hints of apple. 
Finish: Long. Bread, cream, honey, peanuts. 

Comments: 

Cereally, nutty, creamy. The phrase 'bread of heaven' came to mind. This is tasty whisky, and complex for its age (apparently 4-5 years old). This is what tropical aging creates. More, please.

Verdict:

I like this.

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Penderyn Madeira Finish

Official bottling 
Single malt - South Wales
Golden
46% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Oranges, apricots, caramel, vanilla, white grapes, hints of white wine. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, creamy, thickens. 
Tasting: Bitter sour. Apricots, caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 
Finish: Medium. White chocolate, white grapes, white wine. 

Comments: 

White everything! The madeira cask clearly imparts the winey notes, but the white chocolate and the fruit were surprises. Very tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 94.4 (Fettercairn 24 yo 1989/2013)

SMWS 94.4 (Fettercairn 24 yo 1989/2013)

2013, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Light gold
52.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemons, freshly cut grass, hazelnuts, brass polish, apricots. With water, red peppers, hay. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, turns syrupy. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Milk, hazelnuts, orange zest, apricots, brass polish. With water, salty, hints of olive oil, grass. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, orange zest, hints of chillies. 

Comments: 

Complex and confusing, a bit of a mess if I'm honest. My own tastebuds and nose aren't in the greatest tasting shape, but I suspect this whisky really has a lot going on.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Spirit of Asama 2nd batch

Spirit of Asama 2nd batch

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Dark amber 
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, apples, cherries, plums, hints of brown paper, hints of leather. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Apples, cherries, plums, vanilla, hints of pears, hints of leather. 
Finish: Long. Apples, vanilla, plums, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

Fruity, a little leathery. This is Karuizawa without the sherry influence. Anything from the distillery is a treat, and this is a special one. Shame the bottles are so overpriced. Thanks to the Mizuwari Whisky Bar for a little sample, fresh from an unopened bottle.

Verdict:

I like this.

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Honshu
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Banana, vanilla, lemon zest, orange blossom, wet stones, hints of brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, expands, turns watery. 
Tasting: Sweet. Lemon zest, vanilla, bananas, orange blossom, wet stones, brass polish. 
Finish: Medium. Orange blossom, bananas, wet stones. 

Comments: 

Minerally and slightly metallic. Long, sweet banana from the bourbon cask, but still quite wild. This is an odd whisky - it's one of the few I've encountered that tastes exactly like it smells.

Verdict:

I like this.

Chichibu Port Pipe

Chichibu Port Pipe

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Red
57.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, white chocolate, red grapes, cream, hints of vanilla. With water, sweeter, more grapes, strawberries. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, turns watery, tingly. 
Tasting: Sweet. Red grapes, plums, cherries, strawberries, vanilla, white chocolate. With water, sweeter, honey, raisins, more strawberries. 
Finish: Medium. Strawberries, plums, red grapes, white chocolate. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, this is a sugar bomb. It might have benefited from further aging. Utter delicious as is, a few more years might have smoothed off the rough edges.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.
 

Miyagikyo 12 yo

Miyagikyo 12 yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Green gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oak, vanilla, butterscotch, apples, sugarcane, melon, hints of burnt sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, expands in the mouth. 
Tasting: Bitter. Vanilla, butterscotch, apples, melon, hints of sugarcane, hints of burnt sugar. 
Finish: Long. Sugarcane, melon. 

Comments:

Bitter, surprisingly so, but cut with a sweet, slightly smoky undertone. A very gentle whisky, something I'd enjoy unwinding at the end of the day with.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013

Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Straw
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, smoke, vanilla, pears, lemon zest, oatmeal, hints of fish sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, volatile. 
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemon zest, peat, smoke, pears, vanilla, apples, oatmeal . 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, apples, pears, peat, smoke, hints of melon. 

Comments: 

Fruity and smoky, this is a devastating combination. Despite the age of the whisky (a vatting of 4 and 5 year old casks), there is an amazing depth of flavour. Complex and delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

St George's Distillery Queen's Diamond Jubilee Bottling

St George's Distillery Queen's Diamond Jubilee Bottling

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Anglia
Dandelion
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oranges, apples, oak, butter, hints of banana, hints of peat. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, expands, turns watery. 
Tasting: Sweet salty. Oranges, apples, milk, butter, hints of caramel, hints of banana. 
Finish: Medium. Apples, milk, caramel, hints of banana. 

Comments: 

My first English whisky! This was bottled to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It is gentle and sweet, with a slight savoury undertone. A little musty, with a milky hint of what is almost yoghurt. A little young and one dimensional, perhaps.

Verdict:

I like this.
 

Glen Keith 42 yo 1968/2011

Glen Keith 42 yo 1968/2011

Connoisseur's Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
46% ABV 
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, vanilla, grapefruit, lemon zest, hints of pomelo. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting: Sour. Orange peel, vanilla, sandalwood, lemon zest, pomelo, hints of cloves. 
Finish: Short. Orange peel, vanilla, lemon zest, bitter grapefruit pith. 

Comments: 

Fresh and alluring, this whisky is strongly citrusy, almost sharp. It's very delicate, and doesn't show its age at all. Quite refreshing.


Verdict:

I like this a lot.