High Coast Berg
Official bottling
Single malt - Angermanland
Light amber
50% ABV
Dram
Nose: Red grapes, honey, fresh baked bread, hibiscus, black tea, hints of malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly oily, mouth coating, smooth.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Red grapes, honey, black pepper, brown paper, vanilla, hints of pine.
Finish: Long. Red grapes, orange peel, vanilla, cloves, hints of pine.
Comments:
First High Coast whisky, under the new badge (previously Box). It's floral and sweet, plenty of cereal too. Characteristic pine and cloves in the finish, these notes are well hidden by the sherry (?) influence.
Verdict:
I like this.
Saturday, 28 September 2019
Hiram Walker Dream Cask (bottled 23 July 2019)
Hiram Walker Dream Cask (bottled 23 July 2019)
Official bottling
Single malt - Ontario
Dark gold
57% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, marmalade, damson jam, bitter orange, hints of white grapes. With water, marmalade, black tea, bitter orange.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slightly sticky, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Marmalade, damson jam, lemon juice, white grapes, honey, hints of kiwi fruit, hints of milk. With water, vanilla, damson jam, bitter orange, vanilla.
Finish: Short. Black tea, white grapes, damson jam, vanilla, clotted cream.
Comments:
The label says "for testing purposes only". I don't know why it isn't for sale, it's excellent stuff. I only know Hiram Walker through Canadian Club, which, in comparison to this beast, is frankly insipid. There's heaps of fruit in the undiluted spirit, and with water, it opens up to waves of damsons and marmalade. Glorious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Ontario
Dark gold
57% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raisins, marmalade, damson jam, bitter orange, hints of white grapes. With water, marmalade, black tea, bitter orange.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, slightly sticky, thickens slightly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Marmalade, damson jam, lemon juice, white grapes, honey, hints of kiwi fruit, hints of milk. With water, vanilla, damson jam, bitter orange, vanilla.
Finish: Short. Black tea, white grapes, damson jam, vanilla, clotted cream.
Comments:
The label says "for testing purposes only". I don't know why it isn't for sale, it's excellent stuff. I only know Hiram Walker through Canadian Club, which, in comparison to this beast, is frankly insipid. There's heaps of fruit in the undiluted spirit, and with water, it opens up to waves of damsons and marmalade. Glorious.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Imperial 23yo (for the Whisky Show 2019)
Imperial 23yo (for the Whisky Show 2019)
Show bottling, The Whisky Exchange
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green
45.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, honey, lime zest, green tea, white grapes, hints of jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White grapes, jasmine, lemon zest, nectarines, kiwi fruit, green tea.
Finish: Long. Jasmine, kiwi fruit, white grapes, honey, green tea.
Comments:
An odd tasting Imperial. I can normally find plenty of lemon zest in Imperial, but this one has plenty of floral notes too, and stone fruit in abundance. There's also a tannic fragrance that I interpret as green tea. It's very refreshing whisky, and somehow, a palate cleanser.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Show bottling, The Whisky Exchange
Single malt - Speyside
Pale green
45.2% ABV
Dram
Nose: Lemon zest, honey, lime zest, green tea, white grapes, hints of jasmine.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, loosens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. White grapes, jasmine, lemon zest, nectarines, kiwi fruit, green tea.
Finish: Long. Jasmine, kiwi fruit, white grapes, honey, green tea.
Comments:
An odd tasting Imperial. I can normally find plenty of lemon zest in Imperial, but this one has plenty of floral notes too, and stone fruit in abundance. There's also a tannic fragrance that I interpret as green tea. It's very refreshing whisky, and somehow, a palate cleanser.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (Cask 670P)
Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (Cask 670P)
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber
63.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, leather, red grapes, black tea, red wine, prunes, raisins. With water, red grapes, orange peel, leather, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, warm, spicy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, red grapes, prunes, leather, ginseng, coffee. With water, leather, red grapes, raisins, ginseng.
Finish: Long. Red grapes, black tea, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Well now. This is the sister cask to the previous Ardnamurchan, and this is definitely sherry. It's also peated, and it's intense and sweet, with plenty of tannins. Lemon zest is definitely evident on the nose and the finish - is this a distillery characteristic? It's very pleasant stuff. Again, the distillery product is very promising.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Amber
63.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peat, leather, red grapes, black tea, red wine, prunes, raisins. With water, red grapes, orange peel, leather, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, sticky, warm, spicy.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black tea, red grapes, prunes, leather, ginseng, coffee. With water, leather, red grapes, raisins, ginseng.
Finish: Long. Red grapes, black tea, coffee, dark chocolate, hints of lemon zest.
Comments:
Well now. This is the sister cask to the previous Ardnamurchan, and this is definitely sherry. It's also peated, and it's intense and sweet, with plenty of tannins. Lemon zest is definitely evident on the nose and the finish - is this a distillery characteristic? It's very pleasant stuff. Again, the distillery product is very promising.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (cask 199)
Ardnamurchan 2015 Cask Sample (cask 199)
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Pale green
63.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, green tea, jasmine, lemon zest, honey, hints of lavender. With water, peanuts, lemon zest, lime juice, hints of lavender.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, peanuts, jasmine, orange peel, honey, green tea. With water, green tea, ginseng, lemon zest, honey.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, ginseng, orange peel, lemon zest, vanilla.
Comments:
First dram from Ardnamurchan! It's really very nice indeed, light, floral, fruity, with some light tannins. It's gentle, and somehow fragile, even loose. I can't really discern the cask type, probably bourbon? Very promising stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Pale green
63.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, green tea, jasmine, lemon zest, honey, hints of lavender. With water, peanuts, lemon zest, lime juice, hints of lavender.
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, warm, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Lemon zest, peanuts, jasmine, orange peel, honey, green tea. With water, green tea, ginseng, lemon zest, honey.
Finish: Long. Peanuts, ginseng, orange peel, lemon zest, vanilla.
Comments:
First dram from Ardnamurchan! It's really very nice indeed, light, floral, fruity, with some light tannins. It's gentle, and somehow fragile, even loose. I can't really discern the cask type, probably bourbon? Very promising stuff.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
North of Scotland 50yo
North of Scotland 50yo
Official bottling
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Black tea, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, oily, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Red grapes, black tea, raisins, caramel, prunes, vanilla, nutmeg.
Finish: Long. Caramel, dark chocolate, red grapes, nutmeg, vanilla, black tea, cherry.
Comments:
A closed distillery that is new to my experience. It may well be my only chance to taste this - it's spicy and loaded with dark fruits, and a little bit of tannin. As with other aged grains, the spicy sharpness is gone, toned down into gentle nutmeg and prunes, like an aged armagnac. Really enjoyable, and rather drinkable at this low strength.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.4% ABV
Dram
Nose: Black tea, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange peel, hints of dark chocolate.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, oily, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Red grapes, black tea, raisins, caramel, prunes, vanilla, nutmeg.
Finish: Long. Caramel, dark chocolate, red grapes, nutmeg, vanilla, black tea, cherry.
Comments:
A closed distillery that is new to my experience. It may well be my only chance to taste this - it's spicy and loaded with dark fruits, and a little bit of tannin. As with other aged grains, the spicy sharpness is gone, toned down into gentle nutmeg and prunes, like an aged armagnac. Really enjoyable, and rather drinkable at this low strength.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Invergordon 53yo 1966/2019
Invergordon 53yo 1966/2019
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - North Highlands
Chinese tea
49.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, vanilla, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, lemon sweets, hints of Horlicks.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, tutti frutti, chocolate, lemon sweets, black tea, hints of caramel.
Finish: Long. Caramel, black tea, chocolate, butterscotch, Horlicks, hints of condensed milk.
Comments:
Cask DL13339. Another old grain, this one superbly mellowed and sweet. The fruit and spice and been boiled down to more-ish chocolate and Horlicks and condensed milk, all very chewy and delicious. This was truly magnificent, not over-oaked at all.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Extra Old Particular, Douglas Laing
Single grain - North Highlands
Chinese tea
49.6% ABV
Dram
Nose: White grapes, vanilla, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, lemon sweets, hints of Horlicks.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet. Vanilla, tutti frutti, chocolate, lemon sweets, black tea, hints of caramel.
Finish: Long. Caramel, black tea, chocolate, butterscotch, Horlicks, hints of condensed milk.
Comments:
Cask DL13339. Another old grain, this one superbly mellowed and sweet. The fruit and spice and been boiled down to more-ish chocolate and Horlicks and condensed milk, all very chewy and delicious. This was truly magnificent, not over-oaked at all.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Cambus 25yo 1991/2017
Cambus 25yo 1991/2017
Berry Bros & Rudd
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, kiwi fruit, honey, white grapes, hints of cloves, hints of cinnamon. With water, green tea, sandalwood, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, warm, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, white grapes, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, dried apples, hints of cloves. With water, vanilla, tutti frutti, lemon zest, peaches.
Finish: Short. White grapes, peaches, brown paper, lemon zest, hints of chillies.
Comments:
Cask 061971, a special bottling by Berry Bros & Rudd - I don't often see these around. The age has mellowed and blunted the sharp spicy edge of the grain spirit. What's left is sweet, gentle spice, plenty of fruit, but I woke it up again with a little water. This unlocked floral and white fruit flavours.
Verdict:
I like this.
Berry Bros & Rudd
Single grain - Lowlands
Dark gold
57.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, kiwi fruit, honey, white grapes, hints of cloves, hints of cinnamon. With water, green tea, sandalwood, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, warm, sticky.
Tasting: Sweet. Peaches, white grapes, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, dried apples, hints of cloves. With water, vanilla, tutti frutti, lemon zest, peaches.
Finish: Short. White grapes, peaches, brown paper, lemon zest, hints of chillies.
Comments:
Cask 061971, a special bottling by Berry Bros & Rudd - I don't often see these around. The age has mellowed and blunted the sharp spicy edge of the grain spirit. What's left is sweet, gentle spice, plenty of fruit, but I woke it up again with a little water. This unlocked floral and white fruit flavours.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wolfburn Small Batch No 375
Wolfburn Small Batch No 375
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, malted grains, white grapes, pears, honey, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, mouth coating, loosens.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, orange peel, cream, butterscotch, white grapes, hints of caramel.
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, white grapes, coffee, walnut skins.
Comments:
Wolfburn always struck me as good whisky, but not remarkable whisky. It's slightly unfair maybe, whiskies after all become great with age, but for example, Bimber has succeeded in making something taste great when it's young. This small batch expression is decent though, good sweet flavours, fading to a complex bitter finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - North Highlands
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, malted grains, white grapes, pears, honey, hints of leather.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, mouth coating, loosens.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, orange peel, cream, butterscotch, white grapes, hints of caramel.
Finish: Medium. Malted grains, white grapes, coffee, walnut skins.
Comments:
Wolfburn always struck me as good whisky, but not remarkable whisky. It's slightly unfair maybe, whiskies after all become great with age, but for example, Bimber has succeeded in making something taste great when it's young. This small batch expression is decent though, good sweet flavours, fading to a complex bitter finish.
Verdict:
I like this.
Littlemill 29yo
Littlemill 29yo
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
47.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, peaches, winter melon, honeycomb, raisins, black tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, peaches, cornflakes, winter melon, honeycomb, hints of coffee, hints of black tea.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, leather, peaches, winter melon.
Comments:
Well, well, an official Littlemill. I doubt there will be many more times where I will get to taste this, one of my favourite distilleries. This one is complex and sweet, spry and bright, it wears its years lightly. There's sweet notes, bitter notes and fruity notes, all very well balanced and intense.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
47.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Chocolate, peaches, winter melon, honeycomb, raisins, black tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, sticky, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Chocolate, peaches, cornflakes, winter melon, honeycomb, hints of coffee, hints of black tea.
Finish: Medium. Black tea, leather, peaches, winter melon.
Comments:
Well, well, an official Littlemill. I doubt there will be many more times where I will get to taste this, one of my favourite distilleries. This one is complex and sweet, spry and bright, it wears its years lightly. There's sweet notes, bitter notes and fruity notes, all very well balanced and intense.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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