Balvenie 14 Year Old – Caribbean Cask
Aroma: At first there is a sweet biscuity spice, like coconut and pastry. Then it opens to a stewed orchard fruit note – somewhere in between a ripe pear and dried apple slices. Taste: This is a slight dram at first. It is delicate, buttery … Continued
Glenallachie 12 Year Old
Aroma: At first, I picked out maritime wooden notes, like salty sea drops landing on wood. With this came a warming sweet spice. Then as I nosed again, there were notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and sweet coca cola cubes. Taste: Here … Continued
Aldi Irish Reserve – 12 Year Old Irish Malt Whiskey
Aroma: This whisky is all about the sweet honeyed orchard fruits. There is a golden sugar sweetness, which is paired with a buttery pastry like quality. Taste: Initially there is a gentle sweetness, which tastes like a floral honey. It is light, delicate and … Continued
Kavalan Classic Single Malt
Aroma: As I first took a nose of this whisky, there was a big waft of fruit. Firstly apples and raisins then a gentle sweet cinnamon spice. Then with more time in the glass, a dusty oaky note came to the fore. … Continued
Port Askaig 8 Year Old
Aroma: This whisky has a marshmallow sweetness, which is counterpointed with a chimney smoke. Imagine eating Tunnocks Tea Cake whilst emptying day old ashes from a log burner. Call it salty or seaweedy, but there is something maritime about this whisky too. Taste: Delicate, sweet and … Continued
Auld Acquaintance Blended Whisky
Aroma: This is a rich, sweet, nutty whisky to the nose. The sweetness seems to come from crisp autumnal orchard fruits, which mingle with a creamy Panna Cotta like note. Then there is an underlying toasted nutty aroma, which is dry … Continued
Whisky Exchange – Whisky of the Year Box – Lagavulin 16
Aroma: Soapy, wooden smoke, which is musty, minty and full of autumnal orchard fruits. This whisky draws my mind to the smoking jacket of an ageing university academic. Taste: Here at the start, this whisky has a sweet, light flavour. It is somehow both cereal led, with a … Continued
Glen Marnoch 25 Year old (2019 Christmas Release)
Aroma: At first, there are tons of orchard fruits – stewed apples and pears, then raisins and sultanas. With more time, there is a honeyed vanilla sweetness and a nose of sun drying hay. Taste: First, there is a caramelised sugar … Continued
The Whisky Works – Quartermaster
Aroma: To my mind there are three dominant aromas in this whisky, the most prevalent is rich sweet orchard fruits. Think pears and apples, possibly stewing ready for a crumble topping to be applied. Then there is a creamy, nutty underbelly that … Continued
Lakes Distillery – Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2
Aroma: The Lakes Distillery Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.2 is a different beast to No.1. It is still fruity on the nose, but there is red wine acidity and sweet sherry fruit competing to come to the fore. There is also a sweet minty … Continued
