Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Ardnamurchan 9yo 2014/2023

Limited, Adelphi
Single malt - Western Highlands
Amber gold
56.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, cloves, barley sugar, lemon zest, brown sugar, hints of strawberry jam. With water, strawberry jam, vanilla, honey, barley sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, bubble gum, barley sugar, raisins, hints of tarragon. With water, cinnamon, strawberry jam, raisins, honey. 
Finish: Short. Barley sugar, raisins, cocoa nibs, cloves, hints of tarragon. 

Comments: 

Very jammy and spicy Arnamurchan. It’s the oldest I’ve ever had from this distillery, and it does fulfill its promise. I’d say that the cask influence (sherry) is predominant, but there’s some herbal hints that are from the distillate.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wireworks Full Port

Wireworks Full Port

Official bottling 
Single malt - Derbyshire
Amber orange 
52.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, leather, black pepper, orange peel, vitamin C tablets, peat, hints of cinnamon. With water, orange juice, oatcakes, black pepper, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Vitamin C tablets, orange juice, driftwood smoke, black pepper, peat, cinnamon, hints of honey. With water, honey, orange juice, leather, vitamin C tablets. 
Finish: Short. Orange juice, black pepper, driftwood smoke, peat, leather. 

Comments: 

Batch 05_210660_29. Spicy and tart, with a big whack of salty smoke, especially with a little water to open it up. Port and peat don’t often go together so well. Very pleasant dram. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength 2023 Edition Batch 3

Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength 2023 Edition Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon zest, malted grains, sandalwood, white pepper, magic marker, pear drops. With water, pear drops, lemon sweets, white pepper, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Malted grains, pear drops, magic marker, pears, peaches, orange juice, white pepper, nutmeg. With water, malted grains, pear drops, lemon zest, gooseberries, hints of orange juice. 
Finish: Short. Orange juice, lemon zest, malted grains, sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Fruity, fragrant and woody. There’s lots of esters here - pear drops and peaches mainly - but this covers a big malty spine. It fades to a short, citrusy finish. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Tomintoul Small Batch Tawny Port Cask Finish

Tomintoul Small Batch Tawny Port Cask Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Red
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, red wine, red grapes, raisins, lemon sweets, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Raisins, malted grains, red grapes, honey, cough syrup, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Cloves, raisins, malted grains, cough syrup. 

Comments: 

Rather sour for a port cask finish. The red wine and red grape notes are predominant, but the cereal is there and there’s also a bit of peppery spiciness. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Single Malt Batch 3

Nc’Nean Single Malt Batch 3

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cinnamon, orange juice, lemon sweets, malted grains, nutmeg, hints of rhubarb and custard sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, orange juice, malted grains, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of cinnamon. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Fruity, quite tart, but has a hint of salt in all the sourness. The cereal appears largely on the finish, but is a good counterpoint. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler

Nc’Nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler

Official bottling
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, nectarines, orange juice, cinnamon, rhubarb and custard sweets, lemon sweets, hints of butterscotch. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, mouth coating, expands. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Lemon sweets, apples, nectarines, malted grains, cookie dough, vanilla, green tea. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, green tea, cookie dough, apples. 

Comments: 

Lots of apples and stone fruit, together with sweet vanilla and tannic green tea. Definitely an orchard vibe here, makes for tasty whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels - Gordon

Nc’Nean Quiet Rebels - Gordon

Official bottling 
Single malt - West Highlands
Yellow gold
48.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange juice, lemon sweets, rhubarb and custard sweets, raisins, butterscotch, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, warm, tingly.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Butterscotch, cinnamon, raisins, cocoa nibs, lemon sweets, vanilla, hints of green tea. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, lemon sweets, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Gentle, subtle whisky, with some creaminess and butterscotch. There’s a bit of spice, but it’s mostly fruit flavoured sweets. Enjoyable dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

Helsinki 6yo Batch 3

That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Master of Malt
Single rye - Southern Finland
Amber gold
51.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cream, black pepper, strawberry jam, brown paper, leather, tobacco leaf, hints of sour cream. With water, magic marker, roast chicken, damson jam, brown paper. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Brown paper, camphor, sandalwood, black pepper, tobacco leaf, damson jam, cherries, hints of smoke. With water, brown paper, cherries, sandalwood, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, brown paper, damson jam, cherries. 

Comments: 

Very fruity, I think this has a big proportion of barley in it. It’s rye whisky though, lots of spicy sweet notes. I think it’s well-aged, particularly like the jammy cherry notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Coleburn 19yo 1981/2001

Unchillfiltered, Signatory
Single malt - Speyside

Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, milk chocolate, orange peel, wet stones, cream, butterscotch, white pepper. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, thickens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Pineapples, papayas, cream, white pepper, sandalwood, malted grains, butterscotch, milk chocolate, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Black tea, wet stones, raisins, butterscotch, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

More chocolatey and milky than its sister bottle, the tropical fruit notes are less in evidence here. But that fragrant wood is here too, this time chocolate and butterscotch covered. Very nice whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Coleburn 1981/2008

Coleburn 1981/2008

Connoisseur’s Choice, Gordon & Macphail
Single malt - Speyside
Green gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Papayas, honey, pineapples, camphor, sandalwood, clay dust, wet stones. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens, slightly syrupy.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Cookie dough, leather, clay dust, wet stones, pineapples, white pepper, honey, gooseberries.
Finish: Medium. Wet stones, malted grains, leather, white pepper. 

Comments: 

Tastes old, lots of old bottle effect alongside the fruity Coleburn notes. There’s a woody undertone too that’s really appealing. Lovely old whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.