Intriguing on the nose but rather too spiced on the palate for my liking, thankfully not overtly sweet. 82/100
Jim Beam Single Barrel (47.5%, OB, 2020)
Waterproof Blended Malt Batch 001 (45.8%, OB, 2020)
A great sherry-influenced blended malt, quite rich and toffee’d but very easy drinking as it comes. 84/100
Dalmunach 4 Years Old 2015 The Distillery Reserve Collection (59%, OB, 1st Fill Barrel #242140, 324 bottles, 2020)
Still young but eminently drinkable this has a lovely peach yoghurt fruity and creamy nature, surprisingly little ‘new make’ evidence and not overly oaked, though perhaps shows it a little in fresh oak/pencil shavings, gentle biscuity cereals too shows great promise. 83/100
Caperdonich 18 Years Old 2002 The Distillery Reserve Collection (48.1%, OB, 2nd Fill Barrel #25215, 276 Bottles, 2020)
A superb expression that balances both spirit and wood influences, full of tropical fruit. 88/100
Hudson Baby Bourbon (46%, OB, 2020)
Great! Powewrful, polished wood and spices with a lovely sweet backdrop. 87/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old (40%, OB, 2020)
Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Filey Bay STR Finish (46%, OB, 2021)
Definitely my favourite of the tasting, I recoiled slightly at the STR – or shaved, toasted, recharred barrel currently in use far too much with new distilleries for my liking, however this is a red herring here as it is the barrels former (red wine) occupants that really has an impact on the final product. 83/100
Filey Bay Moscatel Finish (46%, OB, 2021)
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 Flagship (46%, OB, 2021)
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
The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 9 (59.4%, OB, 2021)
Another classic cask strength rendition from Glendronach, a hint of apples and spirit here and there but mostly wonderful sherry cask maturation at its best. 85/100
