Entertaining, nice sweet and herbal quality, very volatile in the glass, phenolic – that touch of peat is very present and prominent. Green fruits and waxy pine and herb leaves. 83/100
Balblair 7 Years Old Batch 1
Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2011
Quite smooth, fruity and vanilla led, perhaps the cask influence at 10 years is just starting to make its presence felt against that thick and unctuous mealy cereal nature from the Bere. 85/100
Whitlaw 15 Years Old Batch 1
Yum, classic HP, very light initially. This one is all about the subtleties, wisps of heathery smoke and a sprinkle of smoked sea salt crystals! 85/100
Crabbies Yardhead
On its own this is a fairly basic single malt. Perfect for mixing but also drinkable in its own right. Their are traces of youthful spirit and a touch of sulphur but also a lovely minerality proving a distinct character that does carry though into longer mixed drinks or cocktails. By no means a neutral base spirit. 78/100
Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 4
Very peaty as expected, I felt this one was much better when reduced with water as lots of flavours were masked or locked away behind the wall of peat smoke. 87/100
Croftengea 14 Years Old Batch 3
A touch light in body and malt, perhaps I’m expecting more from comparison to similar smoky Islay whisky? Minimal cask influence suggestive of refill ex-Bourbon, just about tempers the smoke here plus a lovely fresh apple nature. 83/100
Octomore 10.2
Sweeter and smokier than 10.1 and a nice addition of both tropical and stone fruits, I don’t think I’d have picked out the Sauternes influence here but in my defence Octomore’s are pretty robust spirit to begin with! 88/100
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Barolo Finish
A touch tannic and spicy in places at full strength. This presents an unusual mixture of red fruits and toffee which is oddly harmonious. Another predictably excellent, wine cask influenced, Glen Moray. 85/100
The Singleton of Dufftown 54 Years Old
Remarkably well-aged and rejuvenated whisky which is massively drinkable in no small part to the PX polish of sweet dried fruit, nut and chocolate influences layered over some really deep, fibrous and chewy old wood. Hugely complex as befitting its heritage and the era it was created and distilled but also fresh and approachable thanks to the finishing – this is an aged whisky made for drinking & enjoying! 92/100
Kilkerran 12 Years Old
Smoother and more refined than I last remember, possibly due to slightly older stock being available? Incredibly mealy and cereal led with soft peat smoke pervading later. 87/100
The Whiskyphiles 