Dram Review: Waterford Ballykilcavan Edition 1.1

[50.0%・3 Years Old・Distilled in 2016・Bottled in 2020・Official Bottling ・Limited Release of 8,640 Bottles] Nose: Unfortunately not quite enough cask impact, which is obviously a problem for a barely legal whisky, Feels rather rawer and dirtier than the Bannow Island Edition 1.1 with minerals, wee green fruits and burnt toast. Palate & Finish: Burnt toffee, some…

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Dram Review: Waterford Bannow Island Edition 1.1

[50.0%・3 Years Old・Distilled in 2016・Bottled in 2020・Official Bottling ・Limited Release of 8,616 Bottles] Nose: Umm, surprisingly muted, new make, hint of cardboard, plastic as well, some green mangos, certainly some citrus to it. Palate & Finish: Alcohol new make, oily and somewhat sugary, wee brushes of fruitiness and grassiness from the spirit. Some more fresh…

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Whisky Review: Kavalan Single Cask Vinho selected by The Whisky Exchange W120614028

Style: Red fruits and Oaky Nose:Sweet, round ruby grapes march in majestically with figs, strawberries, hawthorns, bay berries and plums lining neatly on the side. Light dedemara syrup and butterscotch rounding up the sweetness nicely. Varnish and freshly shaved timber sweep in, while a deeper umami tone lurking quietly in the shadow. Youthful chili spice…

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Whisky Review: Cadenhead 175 Anniversary Single Cask Cooley 1992 Aged 25 Years

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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Whisky Review: Amrut Spectrum 004

Style: Fruity and Complex Nose: Creamy red grapes and sticky date pudding sitting on top of a herbal base. Caramelized banana, plenty of tobacco leaves with a light peppermint flower overtone. Dark fruits reaches out and bind all the elements together. Strawberry Shisha molasses puffing out a faint smoky breath. A round and deep aroma.…

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Whisky Review: Kavalan Selection Sherry Cask for Maison Du Whisky Singapore 10th Anniversary

Style: Sherry and Spicy Nose: Waterfall of heavy molasses, red dates, fig jam, strawberries, brown sugar all pouring over crystallized orange candy. Icy, green peppermint overtone while copper notes slipping under. Dry black peppercorn with a lick of dry oak staves. Palate: A pretty sip of muscovado syrup on the palate. Java sugar, citrus orange…

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Whisky Review: SMWS 134.1 Paul John “Exotic Rainforest Fruits”

Style: Hot, Fruity and Complex Nose: Immediate whiff of herbal overtone, a layer of peanut brittle followed by deep, round tropical fruits and confectionaries. Packing a fragrant but powerful punch. Peppermint and lavender notes sneaking under the hot wave, vanilla malt carpet rolled out carefully at the back. Fiery heat but it carries the aroma…

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Dram Review: Jameson Caskmates Young Henrys Brewing Co. Edition

[40.0%・NAS・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: A copper zing followed by a dose of light creamy barley, very much Irish and very much triple distilled. Quite a bit of white pepper along with hop inspired floral note on the side. Palate & Finish: Vanilla sugar licked with some swift spices, good presence of malt giving…

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Whisky Review: Redbreast 1999 All Sherry Single Cask (Exclusively bottled for the Whisky Exchange)

Style: Sherry and Herbal Nose: Robust chilli spices fires up while pull pork notes knitting into heavy cranberry jam. Strawberries and cream, dark cherries, coffee jelly infused with herbal liquor. Balsamic vinegar overtone, faint grassy notes and cereal malt. Polished off with a subtle copper tone. Palate: Thick dark cherry trickling down on the palate.…

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Dram Review: Nantou Omar Cask Strength (Lychee Liqueur Barrel Finished)

[56.0%・NAS・Bottled in 2017・Official Bottling・Limited Release] Nose: A faint grassiness draws out notes of green lychees and heat rub.  Beyond that it’s rather new make-y with quite a bare showing of barley husk. Palate & Finish: Neutral spirit sweetened by sparse hints of lychee and ginger flower.  Juniper berries, green mangos and green papaya salad with…

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