Paul John Oloroso
Good work from the Oloroso casks here with classic dried fruit and chocolate to the fore. 84/100
OB
Paul John Brilliance
Solid, sweet and malty and some good fruity and floral notes too. Not too spirity and a touch spicy and drying at the end to keep it interesting. 82/100
Mackmyra Bjorksav
Very sweet and with plenty of range and intensity of flavours. Perhaps a little too sweet for my palate? 82/100
Octomore 10.2
Sweeter and smokier than 10.1 and a nice addition of both tropical and stone fruits, I don’t think I’d have picked out the Sauternes influence here but in my defence Octomore’s are pretty robust spirit to begin with! 88/100
Oxford Rye Whisky The Graduate
Another solid Rye expression from TOAD, perhaps more of the Rye spice to the fore here – this didn’t feel as cask-complex as previous expressions and more raw spirit nature shines because of it. 84/100
Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Barolo Finish
A touch tannic and spicy in places at full strength. This presents an unusual mixture of red fruits and toffee which is oddly harmonious. Another predictably excellent, wine cask influenced, Glen Moray. 85/100
The Whiskymaker’s Editions Bal Masque
Quite a refined and polished expression, quite tight or closed in places. A good malty caramel sweetness infused with fruits but encased in French oak, needs a little water to loosen it up. 84/100
The Singleton of Dufftown 54 Years Old
Remarkably well-aged and rejuvenated whisky which is massively drinkable in no small part to the PX polish of sweet dried fruit, nut and chocolate influences layered over some really deep, fibrous and chewy old wood. Hugely complex as befitting its her…
Wilderness Trail Cask Strength Rye
Incredibly drinkable as presented, not too spicy but full of woody herbal notes and sweet toffee, possibly the best Rye whiskey I have ever tasted! 88/100
Aber Falls 2nd Release
Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present…