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Astrid Nilsen on Pursuit Spirits Barrel Proof Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

8/10

Solid barrel proof sipper

Poured this neat and got hit with rich toffee, charred oak, and a hint of leather. The heat is there at 59.9% but it's not unpleasant — warms the chest in a good way. Finish lingers with cinnamon and dark fruit. Does what a barrel proof bourbon should do.

Benjamin Ross on Barrell Seagrass Rye Whiskey American Rye Whiskey

9/10

My favourite Barrell release

I've tried a few Barrell products and Seagrass is the one I keep coming back to. The nose is all dried mango and caramel, the palate has this creamy vanilla-meets-rye-spice thing going on. It's cask strength so it stands up beautifully to a single ice cube. Genuinely special stuff.

Penelope Hart on Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

8/10

Converted me to Irish whiskey

I was a Scotch-only drinker until someone poured me this at a tasting. The combination of creamy pot still texture with that full cask strength punch completely won me over. Loads of dried fruit and warm spice on the nose, and the finish just goes on and on.

Celeste Moreno on Cotswolds Golden Wold / Harvest Series No 1 English Single Malt Whisky

8/10

Harvest vibes in a glass

The 'Harvest Series' name makes total sense once you taste it — think fresh barley, ripe pear, and a touch of vanilla. I added a few drops of water to bring it down from the 52.5% and it really bloomed. Lovely stuff, though at nearly a hundred quid I'd save it for special occasions.

Natasha Volkov on Deanston 2002 / 15 Year Old / Marsala Cask Highland Whisky

7/10

Good but not quite great

Nice whisky but I expected more complexity for 15 years in wood. The Marsala finish gives it a pleasant winey sweetness and there's some orange peel on the palate, but the mid-palate feels a bit thin. At this price point I'd probably reach for something else, though I wouldn't turn down a pour.

Nils Bergman on Paul John Pedro Ximenez Select Cask Single Malt Indian Whisky

7/10

Nice sipper, slightly one-note

It's very much a dessert dram. PX cask does the heavy lifting here with all that dried fruit and molasses character. I enjoyed it with a single cube of ice which opened up some vanilla notes. Just wish there was more going on beyond the sherry influence — feels a bit linear compared to other single malts at this price point.

Jorge Castillo on Longmorn 2009 / 16 Year Old / Barbadillo Oloroso Sherry / Gleann Mor Rare Find Speyside Whisky

7/10

Nice but not mind-blowing

Pleasant enough dram with the classic sherry notes — dark chocolate, stewed plums, a bit of oak spice. I added a few drops of water to tame the 55.6% and it opened up a bit. For the price I was hoping for something a little more complex though. It's good, just not exceptional.

Nils Bergman on Tomintoul 2008 / 15 Year Old / Tawny Port Pipe Finish Speyside Whisky

7/10

Good not great

Perfectly enjoyable whisky that does what it says on the tin. The port finish brings some fruity sweetness and the 15 years give it decent complexity. My only gripe is the price point feels a tad steep — I'd happily buy another bottle at £80 but at £100 I'll probably explore elsewhere.

Emily Thomas on Method and Madness Mezcal Cask / Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange Single Whisky

9/10

One of my favourite TWE exclusives

Grabbed this on a whim from The Whisky Exchange and I'm so glad I did. The mezcal influence is subtle but adds this gorgeous smoky-savoury backbone to what's otherwise a fruity, rich Irish spirit. Cask strength at 60% and it barely needs water. Absolute cracker.

Natasha Volkov on Edradour 2011 / 13 Year Old / Marsala Finish /Signatory for The Whisky Exchange Highland Whisky

6/10

A bit one-dimensional honestly

The Marsala dominates everything here. Dried fruit, more dried fruit, hint of cocoa, then more dried fruit. I was hoping for some of that classic Highland malt character to come through but it's buried. Not bad by any means, just a bit samey sip after sip. Would've liked more balance for the money.

Sara Lindstrom on Bowmore 15 Year Old Sherry Oak Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

7/10

Nice sipper, nothing groundbreaking

Pleasant enough on the nose with some Christmas cake and gentle smoke. On the palate it's smooth and easy drinking, maybe a little too easy for a 15 year old single malt. I'd say it's a safe gift for someone who wants to try Islay without getting their face melted off.

Clara Johansson on Peter Dawson Special / Bot.1980s Blended Scotch Whisky

7/10

Nice bit of history in the glass

There's something charming about cracking open an 80s bottling like this. It's smooth at 40% with some vanilla and light toffee, maybe a hint of grain sweetness underneath. Not complex but very drinkable. I'd say it's a solid everyday blend from an era when these were made with a bit more care.

Tyler Bennet on Shindo Experimental 01 Single Malt Japanese Single Malt Whisky

7/10

Interesting but I expected more depth

The 'Experimental 01' label had me excited but this plays it relatively safe. Pleasant enough with some malty sweetness and light spice, and the higher ABV gives it decent body. I'd probably reach for a Miyagikyo at this price though. Curious to see what Experimental 02 brings.

Luna Chavez on Glen Scotia 14 Year Old / Icons of Campbeltown Release No.2 Campbeltown Whisky

8/10

Worth every penny

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. At 56.8% it needs a splash of water but then you get lovely vanilla, toffee, and this subtle briny note that screams Campbeltown. £93 feels fair for a cask strength 14 year old these days.

Olivia Park on Spirit of Hven Merak / Seven Stars No.2 Swedish Single Malt Whisky

8/10

Worth the splurge for something different

I'm always hunting for non-Scottish single malts and the Merak is a cracker. Creamy texture with notes of toasted almonds and a slightly coastal character that makes sense given the island distillery. My only gripe is availability — took me ages to find a bottle. If you're bored of reaching for the same Speysides every weekend, give this a go neat.

Ravi Krishnan on Caol Ila 1983 / 42 Year Old / Gleann Mor Rare Find Islay Whisky

10/10

The best whisky I've ever tasted

I know a 10 is controversial but I genuinely cannot find a flaw. Managed to get a dram at auction for less than retail and I savoured every drop over two sessions. The balance between 42 years of oak, that signature Caol Ila coastal smoke, and rich fruit is just perfect. At 51.7% it's full-bodied without being aggressive. This is what whisky can be when everything goes right.

Penelope Hart on Kaiyo Peated Mizunara Oak Japanese Blended Malt Whisky

8/10

Great with a single ice cube

Picked this up on a whim and I'm glad I did. With one ice cube the smoke opens up into something really elegant — almost like incense and dried apricot. The mizunara oak adds a character you just don't get from bourbon or sherry casks. My wife even liked it and she normally hates anything smoky.

Ethan Cooper on Corowa 4 Year Old / Batch 2 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Australian Whisky

7/10

Interesting but pricey

Look, it's a solid dram — creamy vanilla, some stone fruit, a touch of cinnamon. But £93 for a 4 year old single malt is a tough ask when there are Scottish bottles at that price with triple the age. I'd buy it once for the experience but probably wouldn't restock.

Sara Lindstrom on The Cargill (Ardnamurchan and Cardrona Fusion) / 5 Year Old / Adelphi Blended Whisky

9/10

Adelphi nailed this one

Been a fan of Adelphi's independent bottlings for years and this didn't disappoint. The blend of Scottish coastal and New Zealand malt gives it this unique character I haven't found anywhere else. Creamy toffee, dried fruit, a whiff of smoke — had it neat and it's fantastic despite the youth. One of my favourite picks this year honestly.

Jackson Wu on Port Ellen 1979 / 13 Year Old / Douglas Murdoch Islay Whisky

7/10

Beautiful but hard to justify the price

Let me be honest — at £950 you're paying for the Port Ellen name and the fact the distillery is gone. The whisky itself is very good, lovely ashy peat with some vanilla sweetness, but 40% ABV feels a bit thin for what you're shelling out. I'd recommend splitting a bottle with friends so you can experience it without the financial sting.

Top Contributors

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