The Naked Grouse whisky review: I’m still not convinced by this blend, it is very pleasing and all but just too polished/smooth/blendy in places that I see it as a detraction from the whole. 75/100
The Naked Grouse (40%, OB, 2018)
Johnnie Walker 15 Year Old Green Label (43%, OB, 2018)
Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old whisky review: Fresher and fruitier than I remember, slightly odd nutty and zestiness to it like peanut butter and lime curd on toast. – I guess peat and crisp sea salt from the official notes hints at what they are trying to attain. 83/100
Jura Seven Wood (42%, OB, 2018)
Jura Seven Wood whisky review: A little disappointing, the nose seemed OK but hardly worth it after that. It was hard to place any defined flavours and the whole thing seemed quite watery/watered-down in flavour. I think my expectations were met here and this seems to be the bin-end or infinity bottle for Jura’s leftover, random and mostly worn-out casks. 77/100
Scallywag (46%, Douglas Laing, 2018)
Scallywag blended malt whisky review: More fuller flavoured than I remember and much more complex too. Still quite fruity in nature and just a little more spice and wood than I prefer but a decent blended malt nonetheless. I guess my reservation lies in the surreptitious use of sherry casks in this blend which perhaps represents the dichotomy of Speysides’ output today but I don’t feel is indicative of the regions flavour profile in general. 78/100
Bunnahabhain 11 Year Old Batch 9 (49.5%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, 2018)
Bunnahabhain 11 Years Old Batch 5 whisky review: A rather frustrating Bunna, full of that delicious funky mustiness on the nose but just a little light on the palate and peppery in the finish that doesn’t really know what to do with itself. Still a classic Bunna so I still kinda like it. 84/100
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley (50%, OB, 2018)
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley whisky review: Mealy and sweet, this Laddie expression is full of the cereal barley it represents with a generous portion of sweet honey, I found myself picking up a hint of gentle earthy peat (not smoke) in here that reminded me so much of how peat pervades everything in Islay – including me after being there for a few days, their really is nowhere else quite like it and this had me longing to be back there soon! 84/100
Glen Scotia Double Cask (46%, OB, 2018)
Glen Scotia Double Cask whisky review: More smooth and creamier than I remember from our last tasting, much more toffee character too which appears to predominate now giving great body and mouthfeel. 85/100
Glenfiddich 15 Year Old (40%, OB, 2018)
Glenfiddich 15 Years Old Unique Solera Reserve whisky review: The Glenfiddich 15 Year Old solera reserve is still one of my firm favourite whiskies and it is easy to see why this has been so well awarded. Simply well-crafted deliciousness. 86/100
The Balvenie 14 Years Old 2003 Peat Week (48.3%, OB, 2018)
Balvenie Peat Week 14 Years Old 2003 whisky review: A superbly smokey and sweet Balvenie with a great malty backbone to support it. 86/100
Loch Lomond 12 Year Old (46%, OB, 2018)
Loch Lomond 12 Years Old whisky review: Full of toffee but with just a hint of smoke and plenty of fresh and ripe orchard fruits here, still a very pleasing dram this one from Loch Lomond. 84/100
