Williamson 6 Years Old 2011 Cask #130 whisky review: Probably would have been my dram of the night if the Cask Islay (Caol Ila?) hadn’t been so darned good! A lot earthier in its peat this one and some substantial cask influence despite the use of a bigger vessel (butt) over a relatively short period. Perhaps if left a few more years this one could have been truly amazing? 87/100
Cask Islay single malt scotch whisky review: A delicious Islay expression which at first nose suggested Caol Ila distillery, later a hint of gun oil had my mind drifting towards Lagavulin but the beauty of these is we don’t really know where it came from (or if each release hails from the same place). The best thing to do is not care and just enjoy this for what it is – a really great peated Islay expression, powerfully evocative phenols paired with sweet vanilla from ex-Bourbon casks. 89/100
Cask Orkney 18 Years Old whisky review: I have to agree that this fits the profile of for example Highland Park’s Freya expression (also Bourbon cask matured). Full of heathery and lightly floral peat influence and that slightly salty and very malty distillate the Kirkwall distillery is rather famous for. 86/100
Stronachie 10 Year Old single malt scotch whisky review: A great base or standard Benrinnes expression, and nice to sample something only matured in Bourbon casks. Plenty of room for distillery/spirit character to play here to great effect. 82/100
Pulteney 10 Years Old Rum octave finish – The Octave Project whisky review: Sweet but also a little savoury this one, it grew on me but not as instantly likeable as some of the others in this set. It is actually quite hard to fault the Original Bourbon Barrel expression which shone the most in intensity of flavour, the others at time seem a little muddled by the finishing but still of great quality. 83/100
Pulteney 10 Years Old Rioja octave finish – The Octave Project whisky review: Similar to the Arran finished in the Rioja octave, this Pulteney expression is bursting with fruits and cream and is just delicious! 85/100
Pulteney 10 Years Old PX Sherry octave finish – The Octave Project whisky review: Easily as good as the original Bourbon barrel expression but quite different. This time their is some dark fruits from the sherry cask but also plenty of chocolate and nutty elements too. The spice in this one is much more reserved. 85/100
Pulteney 10 Years Old Oloroso Sherry octave finish – The Octave Project whisky review: Spiced and redolent of fruity berries and cream, I’m not sure this is an improvement over the original cask – in fact most of the things I liked from the original bourbon barrel are absent here. Still a very drinkable dram and pleasant rather than spectacular. 83/100
Pulteney 9 Years Old Original Bourbon Barrel – The Octave Project whisky review: A great and classic Pulteney expression, malty, fruity, coastal and vanilla from the bourbon barrel – I kept picking up a hint of wood smoke or toasted oak in here too. 84/100
Arran 6 Years Old Oloroso Rum Octave Finish – The Octave Project whisky review: Finally a little bit of body in this one, it borders on becoming undone by the spirity & spicy nature which come across as youthful exuberance. I have come unstuck upon several rum-cask finishes of late but this one has renewed my interest in them. A very pleasant way to finish off our Octave Project sampling.
The Whiskyphiles 