The Whiskyphiles

NAS

  • Westland Garryana 2020

    Complex with plenty of wood influence but also fruity, spicy and chocolate notes abound. Lifted by presentation at 50% ABV this has much more depth and presence than the heritage collection. 86/100 Continue reading

  • Westland Peated

    My favourite of the Heritage range expressions which have grown slowly over the range. Plenty of peat influence and smoke but also some estery fruits which complement well. 84/100 Continue reading

  • Westland Sherry Wood

    Plenty of fruit and spice delivered from the sherry wood, perhaps a touch medicated tasting with cherry cough drops. European oak wood flavours dominate the palate. 83/100 Continue reading

  • Westland American Oak

    Oak heavy and perhaps a touch bourbon-esque in terms of wood influence with an added cereal depth from the malt. Ginger and orange predominate, a classic taste combination but with added complexity from both spirit and wood. Yes easily the… Continue reading

  • Black Bottle

    Black Bottle offers a characterful blended scotch with good structure and strong flavours. A delight amongst insipid vanilla & lemon blends that let far to much youthful grain spirit shine. An easy equal to many a single malt and much… Continue reading

  • Tullibardine 500

    My favourite of the tasting – I guess no surprises there! I guess like the whole range I felt this was a bit safe and unchallenging. I’d prefer a bit more strength or depth to some of the finishing flavours… Continue reading

  • Tullibardine 228

    Revisiting the Tullibardine 228, albeit in it’s revised packaging I was slightly underwhelmed with this expression compared to my first experience. Perhaps it was due to following the sweetness of the 225? I didn’t feel this had quite as much… Continue reading

  • Tullibardine 225

    from Tullibardine’s spirit. This one seems quite light on the impact of the finishing cask and I found myself wishing it went a little further, the end result is a sweeter and fruitier dram with a touch more woody spices… Continue reading

  • Tullibardine Sovereign

    Good texture and rounded with a good balance between fruit and oak wood before drier and spicier elements add interest. Perhaps a shade of spirit nature belies the youthfulness on the palate. 80/100 Continue reading

  • Oxford Rye Whisky Batch 5 Red Red Rye

    Another rich and cereal led expression as I’ve come to expect from TOAD’s Rye expressions. This is up there with the best of them (possibly Batch 1). The cask combination delivers ginger beer and jammy black fruits and of course… Continue reading