Kilchoman 8 Years Old 2011 ‘Unpeated’ Cask 490 RMW Exclusive Whisky Review: Ha! Cheeky Kilchoman putting unpeated distillate together with peated feints and forshots from the previous distillation run. Matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel (or hogshead based on the number of Cask strength bottles) there is not much here to mask mostly spirit nature. It has been sometime since I regularly sampled Kilchoman and this was a very welcome return and my favourite of the tasting. 83/100
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whisky Review: Another sample at Elijah Craig small batch and yet further disappointment, sadly this just doesn’t cut it like the 12yo did. 78/100
Hakushu 12 Years Old Whisky Review: Definitely the green/woody expression I remember but with perhaps a much more noticeable smoke element, minerality and sharper resolution of herbal notes – but perhaps this is just the benefit of a much more educated palate from me now. Since it is unobtainable price-wise perhaps I do appreciate this expression much more than when it was rather freely available. 84/100
Fettercairn 22 Years Old whisky review: A deliciously sweet expression that really plays on Fettercairns core distillate flavours balanced against classic white oak ex-Bourbon maturation. Tropical fruits and syrup meet vanilla and wood spices resulting in a whole cake-shop of dessert-like flavours. 89/100
Fettercairn 16 Years Old 1st Release Whisky Review: A great addition to the range and one to follow as each batch promises to be as experimental as this 1st release. Despite chocolate malt and multiple cask use the core Fettercairn spirit qualities are still easily found in this expression. 87/100
Dalmore 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Select Whisky Review: A classic Dalmore, from memory this does have some deeper nut/fruit/chocolate flavours in here than the standard Dalmore 12 Years Old – though it has been some time since I last tried the standard expression. I’d be interested to see at what price this retails at, though Dalmore fans will likely buy it regardless. 84/100
Whisky Works Quartermaster 11 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky Whisky Review: Richly flavoured, a touch thin and slightly over-spiced on the palate though I couldn’t really decide if this was oak tannins or too much grain whisky presence – perhaps an indication of all that cask maturation going on in here. 82/100
Jura Winter Edition Whisky Review: A classic Jura expression, not sherried to death but the spirit is really brought to life by the addition of sherry-derived flavours complementing core Jura distillate. For me this is much more of an autmnal dram than a winter warmer due to the association with ‘bonfire night’ flavours. 87/100
Ben Nevis 21 Years Old 1990 Ruby Port Cask Finish Whisky Review: An impressive colour and palate to match. Quite woody and challenging initially, needs to breathe or a drop of water to relax it a little. An unforgettable single cask expression from Ben Nevis. 85/100
The Whiskymaker’s Editions Colheita Whisky Review: Very drinkable, a good intensity of aromas and flavours. This reminds me a lot of a good oaky and fruity red wine, perhaps the most easily approachable/drinkable expression so far from the Lakes Distillery. 84/100
