Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 15yo Final Vintage
Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden orange
46.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Leather, walnuts, sea salt, Demerara sugar, peanuts, salt caramel, hints of caramelised onions.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, slightly volatile.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Orange peel, salt caramel, walnut skins, Demerara sugar, lemon sweets, malted grains, maraschino cherries.
Finish: Long. Lemon sweets, salt caramel, orange peel, Demerara sugar, walnut skins.
Comments:
Citrusy, sweet and slightly bitter. Utterly delicious, I never thought I would be able to have another Hanyu. Now tasting with the benefit of having drunk some Chichibu, I’m struck by how the latter is the heir to the former.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Friday, 28 February 2025
North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021
North of Scotland 49yo 1962/2021
15 Years, The Nectar
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, malted grains, magic marker, vanilla, wheat beer, brown paper, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, airy.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, wheat beer, sea salt, coconut cream.
Finish: Medium. Coconut cream, wheat beer, vanilla, magic marker.
Comments:
Quite the flavour explosion in the mouth. There’s some barley in this, if I’m any judge, but the grain whisky flavours of wheat, vanilla and coconut are intense and quite forward. Last chance to taste whisky from this long gone distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
15 Years, The Nectar
Single grain - Lowlands
Golden brown
40.5% ABV
Dram
Nose: Toffee, malted grains, magic marker, vanilla, wheat beer, brown paper, hints of cinnamon.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, cool, airy.
Tasting: Salty sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, white grapes, pear drops, wheat beer, sea salt, coconut cream.
Finish: Medium. Coconut cream, wheat beer, vanilla, magic marker.
Comments:
Quite the flavour explosion in the mouth. There’s some barley in this, if I’m any judge, but the grain whisky flavours of wheat, vanilla and coconut are intense and quite forward. Last chance to taste whisky from this long gone distillery.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Cardrona Growing Wings 5yo 2016/2021 PX Finish Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive
Cardrona Growing Wings 5yo 2016/2021 PX Finish Melody Whisky Bar Exclusive
Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber gold
63.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, hoppy beer, fresh baked bread, wheatgerm, honey, raspberry jam. With water, magic marker, pear drops, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Malted grains, honey, ink, raspberry jam, raisins, orange peel, wheatgerm, hints of black tea. With water, wet stones, malted grains, magic marker.
Finish: Short. Orange peel, raisins, raspberry jam, Demerara sugar.
Comments:
Fortuitous find! It’s fruity, and opens up nicely with water to become minerally and malty. It builds to a very sweet, and intensely sweet finish. A very pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber gold
63.7% ABV
Dram
Nose: Malted grains, hoppy beer, fresh baked bread, wheatgerm, honey, raspberry jam. With water, magic marker, pear drops, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, mouth coating, cool.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Malted grains, honey, ink, raspberry jam, raisins, orange peel, wheatgerm, hints of black tea. With water, wet stones, malted grains, magic marker.
Finish: Short. Orange peel, raisins, raspberry jam, Demerara sugar.
Comments:
Fortuitous find! It’s fruity, and opens up nicely with water to become minerally and malty. It builds to a very sweet, and intensely sweet finish. A very pleasant dram.
Verdict:
I like this.
Union 5yo 2017/2023
Union 5yo 2017/2023
Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Rio Grande do Sul
Amber brown
56.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, honey, raisins, gooseberries, vanilla, brown paper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, cloves, pears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, gooseberries, green tea, strawberry laces, peanuts, orange peel, hints of damson jam. With water, blueberry jam, raisins, damson jam, green tea.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, orange peel, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Fruity, lots of sweet jammy notes. It’s not peated, so there’s plenty of cask influence here. There’s a nutty undertone that characterises the whisky and was present int the other Union I had too. Very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this.
Individual Cask, WM Cadenhead
Single malt - Rio Grande do Sul
Amber brown
56.9% ABV
Dram
Nose: Strawberry laces, honey, raisins, gooseberries, vanilla, brown paper. With water, strawberry jam, raisins, cloves, pears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, cool, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, gooseberries, green tea, strawberry laces, peanuts, orange peel, hints of damson jam. With water, blueberry jam, raisins, damson jam, green tea.
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, vanilla, orange peel, milk chocolate.
Comments:
Fruity, lots of sweet jammy notes. It’s not peated, so there’s plenty of cask influence here. There’s a nutty undertone that characterises the whisky and was present int the other Union I had too. Very interesting.
Verdict:
I like this.
Falkirk Inaugural Release
Falkirk Inaugural Release
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
52% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, sour cream, cinder toffee, toast, lemon juice, pencil erasers. With water, honey, lemon juice, yoghurt, pencil lead.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, expands.
Tasting: Sour. Sour cream, lemon juice, toast, honey, white grapes, hints of vanilla. With water, vanilla, lemon juice, yoghurt, icing sugar.
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, honey, lemon juice, wet stones, hints of vanilla.
Comments:
Very tart and lactic, underpinned by lots of slightly smoky notes and some citrus. Quite promising, and the lactic notes should fade in prominence with age. Interesting whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
52% ABV
Dram
Nose: Yoghurt, sour cream, cinder toffee, toast, lemon juice, pencil erasers. With water, honey, lemon juice, yoghurt, pencil lead.
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, expands.
Tasting: Sour. Sour cream, lemon juice, toast, honey, white grapes, hints of vanilla. With water, vanilla, lemon juice, yoghurt, icing sugar.
Finish: Short. Yoghurt, honey, lemon juice, wet stones, hints of vanilla.
Comments:
Very tart and lactic, underpinned by lots of slightly smoky notes and some citrus. Quite promising, and the lactic notes should fade in prominence with age. Interesting whisky.
Verdict:
I like this.
Crabbie’s Chain Pier 3yo 2019/2022 Inaugural Release
Crabbie’s Chain Pier 3yo 2019/2022 Inaugural Release
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
57% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, wet stones, honey, haw flakes, sandalwood, clay dust, hints of white pepper. With water, peanuts, ink, clay dust.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Haw flakes, honey, sandalwood, hay, strawberry jam, clay dust, chillies, hints of ink. With water, celery, ink, strawberry jam, hints of cucumber.
Finish: Long. White pepper, haw flakes, malted grains, clay dust, honey.
Comments:
Minerally, but also fruity and jammy. There’s a tartness on the tongue that reminds me of hawthorn berry sweets. Water brings out something iron-y, enhancing the minerality.
Verdict:
I like this.
Official bottling
Single malt - Lowlands
Dark gold
57% ABV
Dram
Nose: Peanuts, wet stones, honey, haw flakes, sandalwood, clay dust, hints of white pepper. With water, peanuts, ink, clay dust.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, hot, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Haw flakes, honey, sandalwood, hay, strawberry jam, clay dust, chillies, hints of ink. With water, celery, ink, strawberry jam, hints of cucumber.
Finish: Long. White pepper, haw flakes, malted grains, clay dust, honey.
Comments:
Minerally, but also fruity and jammy. There’s a tartness on the tongue that reminds me of hawthorn berry sweets. Water brings out something iron-y, enhancing the minerality.
Verdict:
I like this.
Thursday, 27 February 2025
Miltonduff 16yo 2007/2024
Miltonduff 16yo 2007/2024
James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Pink
54.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raspberry jam, wheat germ, malted grains, black pepper, honey, cloves, hints of violets. With water, honey, malted grains, hints of violets.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, slippery, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Wheatgerm, raspberry jam, cherries, honey, hints of cinnamon. With water, black pepper, malted grains, raspberry jam.
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, wheatgerm, malted grains, hoppy beer, honey.
Comments:
Cask 369584. Sweet and fruity, but laden with plenty of cream and malt. Water brings out a peppery spiciness. I think this is a PX cask, a decent marriage of whisky and wine.
Verdict:
I like this.
James Eadie
Single malt - Speyside
Pink
54.3% ABV
Dram
Nose: Raspberry jam, wheat germ, malted grains, black pepper, honey, cloves, hints of violets. With water, honey, malted grains, hints of violets.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, slippery, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Wheatgerm, raspberry jam, cherries, honey, hints of cinnamon. With water, black pepper, malted grains, raspberry jam.
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, wheatgerm, malted grains, hoppy beer, honey.
Comments:
Cask 369584. Sweet and fruity, but laden with plenty of cream and malt. Water brings out a peppery spiciness. I think this is a PX cask, a decent marriage of whisky and wine.
Verdict:
I like this.
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024
Tamnavulin 15yo 2009/2024
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, hints of pink
57.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, caramel, malted grains, white chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, raisins, ice cream soda.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, creamy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, vanilla, ice cream soda, white chocolate, white pepper, black tea. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, ice cream soda.
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, malted grains, white pepper, orange peel.
Comments:
Sweet and fruity, quite luscious, with plenty of sweet vanilla-laden things. Water opens up a grassiness, with plenty of maltiness too. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Speyside
Amber, hints of pink
57.1% ABV
Dram
Nose: Orange peel, strawberry jam, cream, caramel, malted grains, white chocolate. With water, strawberry jam, orange peel, raisins, ice cream soda.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, warm, creamy.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, vanilla, ice cream soda, white chocolate, white pepper, black tea. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, ice cream soda.
Finish: Medium. Strawberry jam, malted grains, white pepper, orange peel.
Comments:
Sweet and fruity, quite luscious, with plenty of sweet vanilla-laden things. Water opens up a grassiness, with plenty of maltiness too. Very nice indeed.
Verdict:
I like this a lot.
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.
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.
Saturday, 15 February 2025
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.
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.
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.
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