About me? I am a Whisky Educator, Travel-Tourist and Blogger. I blog tasting notes about (mostly Scotch) beer and whisky at The Whiskyphiles. I keep progress of my travels via the Alfred Barnard Society. Based in Livingston, Scotland I do most of my dramming at the University of Edinburgh Water of Life Society and Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Woody but so drinkable, I hadn’t appreciated when sampling this that it wasn’t all 20 years old! Some soft floral notes but this is mostly wood and dried herbs and fruits with a generous nutty and chocolate component too, superb! 86/100
Another rich and cereal led expression as I’ve come to expect from TOAD’s Rye expressions. This is up there with the best of them (possibly Batch 1). The cask combination delivers ginger beer and jammy black fruits and of course that superb colour. I’m still not convinced about the pricing of this expression though there are certainly no complaints about what is inside the bottle. 85/100
A soft and accessible as befitting a peated Tomatin. A touch woody in places from the Virgin Oak casks perhaps but well constructed with an array of flavours complimenting this soft Highland Malt with a smoky edge. 83/100
As you would expect this has all the diversity and flavour of a single malt whisky, if anything the Coffey distillation has allowed the extraction of cask flavours to come through even more in the final whisky. 84/100
My favourite of the tasting, the perfect combination of sweet and peat. I’ve long had a fascination with Sauternes-cask finished whiskies and this one really hits the mark with youthful peaty exuberance and leathery, stone-fruit skin sweetness in perfect harmony. 92/100
There are some who rave about any whisky matured in Port casks as being excellent, however in my experience some have been either a hit or a miss. Don’t let the colour fool you as the palate doesn’t always back it up. Here however Glasgow have matured this one to perfection. Lots of juicy red fruits, touch jammy and some chocolate. 89/100
Building on the light and floral Triple distilled base the Tokaji cask has added more stone fruit and rather a lot of tannin and oak wood spice. The addition of a little drop of water relaxed this one quite a lot and really adjusted the balance on the palate and finish. 84/100
Classic combination of citrus and ginger with spice and zest in harmony. 84/100
A pleasant single malt with plenty of fruity and grassy cereal influences and a touch of tropicality. 80/100
Another rather unique expression, definitely a cut above the standard Writers Tears expressions available. A touch overtly hoppy in places which I certainly enjoyed but really shines in the finish. 84/100
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