Edradour 12 Year Old 2003 11th Release Bourbon Cask Matured whisky review: Straightforward, massive bourbon maturation, hints of apples, cereal and butter from the spirit but this is mostly cask for me, takes water very well. 85/100
Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum review: Appealing to both my rum and whisky palate, this well aged example is edging into Rancio territory with masses of oak wood influence and still plenty of sweetness too. 85/100
BenRiach 14 Years Old 2005 Port Pipe #3791 whisky review: A classic combination of sweet and peaty which I just love! On the palate this has quite a lot of phenolic and herbal influences that preside over the normally much sweeter and jammy fruit from the port cask, an interesting turn around on the palate which I thoroughly enjoyed. 85/100
BenRiach 9 Years Old 2006 Virgin Oak #6095 whisky review: Finally a virgin oak expression I really rather enjoyed. Lots of Benriach cereal notes in here and very complimentary spice, honey and nutty qualities combine to give a delicious caramel spiced latte coffee like nature to this. 85/100
The GlenDronach 16 Years Old Boynsmill whisky review: Intensely nutty and gently spiced with undertones of rich dark fruits – delicious! 85/100
Strathmill 22 Years Old 1991 Berrys’ whisky review: Showing its age with subtle signs of overipe and bordering on tropical fruit influences and also that trace of Highland/Speyside peat that seems to have dropped out of use/favour over the next couple of decades at least apart from now novelty “peat weeks” of distilling before the silent season and necessary equipment cleaning. 85/100
Lagavulin 1999 Distillers Edition whisky review: A very “Classic” Lagavulin Distillers Edition with a great balance between hugely smoky Lagavulin and sweet dried sherry fruits and cocoa from the PX casks. Plenty of depth on the nose and palate and a finish that persists. 85/100
Lagavulin 8 Years Old 200th Anniversary Limited Edition whisky review: It has taken me some time to finally get on board with this expression. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed but whenever I sat to formulate some notes I seem to get stuck after the nose and hard to ascribe anything in particular. Perhaps sampling this side-by-side with the 9yo GOT edition really highlighted the differences. There is a freshness in here quite unlike anything else I have sampled from Lagavulin, perhaps it is New Make (I have some somewhere to test this theory) or I am more inclined to think it is the result of underactive (3rd/4th fill casks)? 85/100
Clynelish Distillery Exclusive Bottling whisky review: From the colour and flavours present I suspect a healthy amount of refill ex-bourbon casks went into this vatting, surprisingly it really doesn’t feel that youthful and could easily pass a comparison with the 14 year old. A little less waxy than I am used to from Clynelish, or perhaps it is the absence of flavours carried within it. A suspect this is a bit of Clynelish purists whisky and I am maybe under-appreciating it. Flawless but not really ticking my boxes regards flavour profile. 85/100
Benromach 10 Years Old 100° Proof whisky review: A much richer and darker fruit and chocolate filled experience when presented at this strength, much more malty feeling too though this is probably a mixture of a concentration effect of the flavours found in the reduced version and higher ABV. 85/100
