Another tasty expression, moved more into stone fruits thanks to the Moscatel finish, plus plenty of honey and syrup sweetness too, whilst retaining core distillate flavours too. 82/100
Filey Bay Moscatel Finish
Filey Bay Flagship
A nice introduction to the Filey Bay house style, plenty of fruity spirit and a hint of youth in the woody notes present, thankfully not too over-cask-engineered which seems all the rage with most new distilleries. A promising start! 82/100
Port Askaig 12 Years Old Autumn Edition
Totally different to the Spring edition, matured in ex-sherry butts and solera casks much more funky and nutty than fruity there was more than a little funky old cask in this on, even with all the peat influence I found myself preferring the sweetness of the bourbon/Spring edition. 82/100
Elements of Islay Peat Full Proof (59.3%, Elixir Distillers, 2020)
Quite a surprise to find this is the same Peat offering but at Cask Strength, I think I much preferred the reduced version for drinking. Surprisingly different considering this is just the same whisky at higher ABV! 82/100
Aultmore 9 Years Old 2011 Reserve Casks Parcel No. 4
This small batch has slightly more depth, whether due to quality of the initial distillate or casks used is hard to determine but I certainly preferred this over the Linkwood in the same range. 82/100
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon (45%, OB, 2020)
Perhaps a little too woody for me with a hint of dry pencil shavings, otherwise a good balance of sweet and spice. 82/100
GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Spanish Oak Finish (48%, OB, 2020)
Another quiet woody expression and not too dissimilar to the previous French oak edition with a touch more wood spices added here. 82/100
GlenAllachie 12 Year Old French Oak Finish (48%, OB, 2020)
Very pleasant, much more woody and oaky presence here though oddly slightly vinegary on the nose I did wonder if this was a pale/Amontillado sherry cask finish at one point. 82/100
Cambus 28 Years Old 1991 Single Cask (55.8%, Cadenheads, 2019)
Great on the palate despite inherent thinness of grain whisky, touch funky on the nose and slightly over-woody. Water made this spicier and woodier so I’d drink it as it comes. 82/100
Nc’nean Organic Batch 1 (46%, OB, 2020)
Another vanillic sweet and fruity malt, this feels quite a bit younger and fresher, still some zest and spice present from the distillate. Some deeper notes and a beery/yeasty aroma to it once it had breathed – possibly some influence from the cask maturation. 82/100
