Tastes

This new Bruichladdich offers an almost perfect harmony of woody vanilla and spice notes. The barrels were carefully selected to highlight these combined flavours. At 50% ABV, it feels smooth and savoury because of the limousine cask malts used. Adding just a few drops of water and allowing it to rest at room temperature, brings out and truly enhances the malt's flavours. The port spice notes are subtle, appearing towards the end to provide a satisfying finish. While not overly complex, it achieves an ideal balance and harmony for an 18-year-old single malt. One of the best in its age group, I've tasted.

The best part of this dram is the nose, which showcases a perfect integration of Glenfiddich distillate and Caribbean rum cask. The aroma features strong notes of vanilla and oak, accompanied by fruity rum flavours that include light spices like clove, tropical fruits such as bananas, and a sweetness from honey and caramel. On the palate, the experience diverges from expectations. There’s an initial burst of fruitiness, but it is quickly overshadowed by unwelcome tannins. The body is somewhat thin yet oily, leading to a drying sensation and warmth reminiscent of rum. I hoped for a longer finish, as I kept searching for something noteworthy, but nothing significant emerged. This 21-year-old whiskey is meant to be drunk sip by sip—a simple drink and nothing to contemplate about. It is straightforward and neat, appealing to those who want tropical spiced rum as their whiskey. The age statement makes it extremely easy to drink, as does the ABV. However, for those seeking a more adventurous experience, I would recommend skipping this one.

I must say Yamazaki 12YO set a bar that only some 18YO Highland scotch can reach. At 43% it hits higher than some 46% and at the same time; feels oily, mouth coating and not thin. What sets it apart from scotch must be it's use of mizunara cask whiskey. The long pleasant woodiness lingers well after your first sip. The mizunara influence is very noticeable but doesn't overpower the rest of the malty notes but rather embraces them. Interesting dram.

This one reminds me of eagle rare 10 but much of an upgrade in the nose and palate. The nose is the best part of this bourbon, I can smell this all day. Caramel, sweet corn, and gentle spice comes through but doesn't overwhelm each other. The mouthfeel is especially light given it's 100 proof, the sweetness dominates here whilst the spicer notes hits a high cresendo followed by a slow fade, the finish however is short but it makes you desire to have a next sip. All in all, it's a fantastic bourbon amongst the best, a must try for all American whiskey enthusiasts.

It's a NAS, it feels mostly of younger stock, however there is a higher proportion of sherry matured and a smaller portion of virgin oak stock being used. Henceforth, There is pleasant sherry entwined with bittersweet oak on a creamy palate. The nose is rather lively with citrus, figs, cinnamon, cloves, raisins and vanilla. The finish is rather short but with the higher ABV, gives this whiskey a richer and full mouthfeel.

I can sense the PX sweetness coming from the nose with earthy nuttiness. The palate comes with a sharp honey sweetness followed by toffee, bitterness of dark chocolate, plums qnd light baking spices towards the end. Thick like syrup, rich and complex with coffee notes in the long finish. It has good balance of richness of the PX sherry, the complex various notes and the feel in the mouth. All in all. An excellent sherried single malt from Glendronach.

N: Soft peat mixed with fruity orange marmalade and toffee notes. Very perfumed smell. P: Syrupy in texture with sweetness and light spices followed by a smoldring peat smoke. F: Roasted peat and a savoury aftertaste. This one of the most smoothest and gentle finish, I've experience in a whiskey. This 18 year will have you reach another, in a matter of seconds.

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask is the real key here. 10 different single malt and grain whiskey blends. American, Mizunara and Sherry Cask are used for this blend. The Nose is my favourite, very floral, raisins, zesty, tropical fruitiness and vanilla. The palate is lovely with chocolate, orange marmalade followed with by a little baking spices. There's bitterness before the finish then followed by sweet oakiness and spices in the medium short finish.

Simply wow. After 15 years, 1/3 parts of whiskey from the cask, spends it's time in ex-sherry before being brought together with the rest of the whiskey which has been maturing slowly in ex-bourbon casks for 18 years, and together, this really brings out the creaminess and fruitiness of this single malt. Nose is creamy with light spices, with caramel and fruit. Palate is has that zesty, creamy and honey notes. Finish is medium short with oak, sherry and sweetness.

Brown colour, First thing you find on the nose is Orange peel zest and Sherry followed closely by sweetness of honey and some warm spices behind. Light and oily on mouth, sweet cherries, oak, sherry and raisins, baking spices later on with a medium length finish which lingers on whilst fading... A stellar Speyside offering, which is well-balanced, has great structure, smooth, delicious and complex enough.