Blogging, one whisky at a time
Style: Fruity and Grainy Nose: Begins with a youthful spirit overtone, toffee carrying an energetic grain-y buzz. Summer berries, grapefruit citrus, wafers, apple jacks with a touch of acidic raspberries. Peppermint and cloves spice zigzagging across and give some heatness to the spirit. Malt becoming fuzzy towards the back, dark chocolate finish. A light-hearted fruit-grain…
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[58.5%・13-14 Years Old・Distilled in 2000・Bottled in 2014・Ichiro’s Malt Bottling・Cask No. 531・Single Cask Release] Nose: The dram starts off with a white grape acidity that’s rather prominent, hint of Sauternes with a slight spirit sharpness at first that opens up to some lovely jammy aromas in time. The Weetbix-esque malt sinks into a certain earthiness and…
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[55.0%・35 Years Old・Bottled in 2015・The Number One Drinks Company Bottling・Cask No. 7417・Single Cask Release of 473 Bottles] Nose: An utterly woody setting with strong Karuizawa influences, meaty and leathery with a splash of black peppercorn, very indulgently Sherried and carrying hints of matchstick and gunpowder. The rustic spirit gives an incredible bone broth oiliness with…
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Style: Sweet, Grassy and Comlplex Nose: Crystallized orange flowers blossoming beautifully on the nose. Small pinch of black pepper, fresh-cut grass and banana gummies building on top of vanilla cupcake. A touch of oily, hay peat smoke mixing with mineral granules. Sweet and complex. Palate: Navel oranges leading the way, while banana gummies and vanilla…
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Style: Fruity and Spicy Nose: Sweet purple grape bubblegum, blue berries and dried apricots mix comfortably with stewed tropical fruits. Razor-hot peppermint edge carves in, while a touch of vanilla cream hides behind it. Plenty of barley sugar clusters around the core, distinct black peppercorns formed at the back. Dry spices finish. Palate: Bountiful blueberries…
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Style: Sweet, Herbal and Dignified Nose: Ahhh… Everything you would expect from a well-matured whisky, dignified aroma – toasted oak, coffee grounds, old cabinet, honey oat with a touch of vanilla custard to bring them together. Sweetness comes in an intriguing form of watermelon and kumquat sorbet, green mangoes, then a little heat brings us…
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Style: Sweet and Spicy Nose: Begins with a powerful whiff of spirit spice, which is quite surprising as it is a mere 52.6%. When I get used to the hotness we have sweet grapefruit candies, vanilla custard and apple pies. In comes another wave of fresh orchard fruits, within hides an unusually (but in a…
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Style: Sherry and Malty Nose: Brown sugar casually sprinkled down on coffee jelly. A rather “deep” vibe here. Plenty of black currants floating to the top, while peppermint haze shrouds around a hearty malt. Pencil shavings, caramel sauce with a teasing acidic note. Black peppercorns and dry spices at the back. A rather delicate aroma.…
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[50.0%・Bottled In 2018・40 Years Old・Original Bottling・Limited Release of 2,000 Bottles] Nose: Fairly diligently woody that’s perhaps slightly on the damp side. Dark fruits faintly lingering in the background with the cherries giving a brightness that gels well with the wood. There are hints of plastic and pepper as the ripe fruits and berries continue to…
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Style: Bright and Smoky Nose: Bright aroma as the curtain of heavy smoke lifted beautifully by bourbon fruits. Dryness and spices combines with fresh ginger while the peat slowly comes through. Beautiful nose. Palate: Pear drop, honey and caramel springs off from ginger, very fresh, almost grassy at times. Magnificent touch. Smoke looms in the…
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