Rich and smooth like good dark chocolate, subtle peaty and coastal elements mix with plenty of wood influence here. 88/100
Bowmore 18 Years Old
Bowmore 15 Years Old Darkest
Ok for me this is not really an improvement on the 12 Years Old but rather a different perspective on Bowmore, I feel this is never as overtly sherried as the colour suggests and is much more neutral. 84/100
Rampur Select (43%, OB, 2015)
Initially quiet this expression is full of soft and sweet tropical fruits, honey and vanilla representing Rampur’s core flavour profile. 84/100
The Glenturret Triple Wood (43%, OB, 2020)
A beautiful expression, quite complex but very drinkable. Lots going on in here but all very complementary the result is Baklava, buttery pastry, honey/syrup, nuts and gentle spices combined to perfection. 85/100
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky (43%, OB, 2020)
Blind-tasted – Reasonably simple definite corn-led grain whisky with bourbon-oak maturation, possibly from somewhere with a slightly warmer climate, I guessed a grain or pot-still Irish whiskey due to the sweet and spiced nature. 83/100
Benromach 10 Years Old
Benromach’s entry level malt is still a complex and fascinating dram full of malty barley, fruity spirit and sweet & spiced cask derived flavours. Superb, possibly one of the best 10 year old standard expressions available. 84/100
Benromach 8 Years Old 2011 Organic
Very sweet and dessert-led, there is a malty backbone here which props up a lot of fruit and sweetness. Only the reveal gave away this weeks ‘theme’ of Organic. 83/100
Islay Mist 8 Year Old Amontillado Napoleon Finish (43%, Macduff International, 7000 bottles, 2017)
Islay Mist 8 Year Old Amontillado Napoleon Finish Whisky Review: While there are some full flavoured malts in here – and I suspect a very good helping of Caol Ila in particular there was also something drawing the palate back to neutrality that could be nothing other than grain spirit. I completely missed that the sweetness here was due to the Amontillado sherry cask finish and just assumed it was a well-constructed blend. 82/100
Hakushu 12 Years Old (43%, OB, 2018)
Hakushu 12 Years Old Whisky Review: Definitely the green/woody expression I remember but with perhaps a much more noticeable smoke element, minerality and sharper resolution of herbal notes – but perhaps this is just the benefit of a much more educated palate from me now. Since it is unobtainable price-wise perhaps I do appreciate this expression much more than when it was rather freely available. 84/100
The Dalmore 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Select (43%, OB, 2020)
Dalmore 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Select Whisky Review: A classic Dalmore, from memory this does have some deeper nut/fruit/chocolate flavours in here than the standard Dalmore 12 Years Old – though it has been some time since I last tried the standard expression. I’d be interested to see at what price this retails at, though Dalmore fans will likely buy it regardless. 84/100
