Delicious, redolent of cereal and husks from the Buckwheat this also has some sweet and mineralic nature, perhaps a trace of something metallic later on but doesn’t detract. 87/100
Eddu 14 Years Old Batch 1
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
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
Hazelburn 13 Years Old 2007
A superb Hazelburn expression in which the spirit nature has been matched to (mostly) ex-bourbon maturation, soft citrus fruits and biscuity cereals accentuated with a touch of sherry sweetness and Campbeltown maritime/salt influences. 87/100
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 2005 Tokaji Finish
Traditional sweetie shop with candied ginger and dried/candied orange peel layered over Glen Moray’s biscuity malt base, later maple and pecan pastries and a hint of saffron, remarkable!
Glenfiddich 23 Years Old Grand Cru
Soft, creamy and reserved plenty of brioche, white pear & grape and soft brown sugars. In general intensity of flavour and mouthfeel I preferred this at cask strength rather than the reduced final version.
Lagavulin 13 Years Old Feis Ile 2021
Soft and subtle, this drinks like a classic Lagavulin (e.g. 16yo) with just a hint of some extra cask char and vinous nature. Perhaps the natural sweetness/Sherry influence in standard Lagavulin makes it hard to see what the Port-seasoned cask has introduced that is different?
Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021: Marsala Cask Finish 2001
At cask strength this is rich but a touch on the spicy side for me, with water this mellows into more buttery caramel. A great example of Bunnahabhain’s fruity distillate pairing well with Marsala wine finishing
Bruichladdich Feis Ile 2021 Masterclass 4
Another interesting spin on the Bruichladdich core flavour, perhaps not so cereal-forward here and evolves into some much greener fruit flavours too.
Bruichladdich Feis Ile 2021 Masterclass 2
Thanks to the Islay-grown barley this cask/distillate has much more up-front minerality and also much more barley ‘husk’ and nutty cereal flavour.
The Whiskyphiles 