Whisky Tasting Notes - Advent 2022

For the last few years now I've been a rather avid Whisky drinker, and taster. Last year, along with the previous year, I purchased myself a Whisky Advent Calendar; each contain 24 Drams, each labelled to be tasted on a given day. However, as I do not enjoy Whiskey of the Irish kind, this last year I also purchased 5 Japanese Drams, and subbed these in whenever an Irish Whiskey arrived - As a result there are 26 days listed below.

For each day I've taken the liberty of compiling an identifiable name, it's ABV, and it's price (at time of listing) on the Master of Malt website (the company from which I purchased the calendar). Where applicable, I've also tried to list the country of origin (though I have omitted Scotland, and I've probably missed some). Flavours listed with a question mark are those I'm not sure if I was reading correctly, or were possibly confused with another flavour.

As this is the first time I have attempted to take Whisky notes, and because I was typing them out rather than more organically writing them down (I plan to transition to this over the next few months), they are terribly under-detailed. I am hoping over time I can develop these senses just as I have my own co-ordination¹.

Finally, as a result of this experiment, two bottles I have decided I liked enough to add to my collection were the GlenDronach 12 (day 1) due to it being simply one of the best non-single-cask deep-sherry Whisky I've ever tasted (I will also be visiting this distillery in June, for their Sherry Masterclass tour), and Brenne (day 12) because it's just that strange.

Day 1

GlenDronach 12 Year Single - 43% ABV - £47

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Red fruit, Cinnamon, Caramel, Ginger?, Sherry

Palette: Fruity, Cinnamon, Caramel, Nutty?, Marmalade

Finish: Smoky but clean

Overall: Extremely nice for something relatively young, with a lot of depth to its flavour. If I had to guess, it's probably second fill casks that haven't been heavily used prior, to encourage a stronger flavour.

Verdict: Would buy

Day 2

Black Bottle Double Cask (blended) - 46.3% ABV - £25

Colour: Toffee Caramel

Nose: Strong, Smokey (definite peat), Dish Soap?, Oak?, Medicinal, Burnt Sugar?

Palette: Winey, Soapy, Oily (not chill filtered), Ginger

Finish: Oak, Spicy, Short

Blend: Islay Malt, among others, definitely some red wine finishing

Overall: A bit too spicy for my liking, feels a bit too winey (likely from a long stay in a burgundy barrel) and finish is too short and sharp. Colour also probably comes from the wine cask, rather than whatever the other cask is (probably American Oak though)

Verdict: Wouldn't buy, but would drink

Day 3

MackMyra Limousin Swedish Single - 46.1% ABV - £60

Colour: Light Golden

Nose: Floral?, Vanilla, Red Berry, Honey

Palette: Pear, Ginger, Pepper, Spice, Cognac?

Finish (Swedish): Oily, Spicy, Ginger, Pepper (lots), Very long

Overall: Very long finish is nice, but raspy, and despite the high ABV it feels watered down?

Verdict: Nice, would buy

Day 4

Spice King 12 Year Blended Malt - 52% ABV - £38

Colour: Pale Gold, almost sunflower oil shade

Nose: Pepper, Oily, Smoke

Palette: Pepper, Smoke, Medicinal, Peat, Herby?

Finish: Woody, Sharp, Pepper

Blend: Highland, and Islay - probably 40:60 or higher.

Overall: Very strong feeling of peat, so it's not something I can easily enjoy. Also, very light, leading me to suspect second or third fill casks.

Verdict: Considered not even finishing the 35ml taster, not for me.

Day 5

Singleton of Dufftown 12 year Single - 40% ABV - £40

Colour: Light Golden Honey

Nose: Red Fruit, Cinnamon?, Toffee, Butter, Peanut?

Palette: Soft, Toffee, Nutty (nondescript), Orange?

Finish: Long and Steady, Mild Spice, Woody

Overall: Very nice dram, quite soft because of the low ABV (watered down) and has almost no "legs" so most likely chill filtered, taking out quite a bit of body.

Verdict: Having been to this distilleries' sister Glen Ord, and bought a bottle of their reserve collection there, I knew what to expect (because they use the same maltings), and wasn't disappointed (ABV aside). Would consider buying this also, but as more of a sit-and-sip dram than anything overly special.

Day 6

The Woodsman Blended (a'la Whyte & Mackay) - 40% ABV - £28

This one describes itself as "for cocktails" ... uh oh

Colour: Light Golden

Nose: Peaty, Oak (new cask smell), Oily (I wonder why), Almond?

Palette: Oak, Sour, Aniseed?

Finish: Very sour, Smoky, and Mint?

Overall: Uhh, I think "for cocktails" really sums this one up, not really a whisky you'd want to drink any other way.

Verdict: For the price, I'd drink it with coke, but on its own it's severely wanting for some age. Definitely feels like a whisky that's been made just to weather some casks that didn't need charring.

Day 7

Lindores Abbey MCDXCIV (1494) Single - 46% ABV - £43

Colour: Light Yellow Gold

Nose: Pepper, Red Fruit, Brandy, Rough, Soft Peat?

Palette: Sharp, Oily, Winey (for flavour mayhaps?), Vanilla (obviously)

Finish: Long and rough, tastes like a 3-4 year Whisky.

Overall: Definitely a young Whisky - no hiding that.

Notes: This distillery holds the distinction of being the source of Whisky to the wider world when in 1494 James IV commissioned them for 8 bottles of "aqua vitae" - they have however not been operating seamlessly, so this is not that same spirit, for that is instead lost to history, and this is whatever they're pushing now having just re-opened.

Verdict: Nice, but I think it needs another decade, and to see the inside of a Port / Sherry cask. Nonetheless, one to keep an eye on.

Day 8

Nikka (Japan) "Pure Malt" Red - 43% ABV - £47

Note: Pure Malt is code for "it's a blend, but we don't want to admit it"

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Malty, Oily, Red Fruit, Peanut

Palette: Oily, Herby, Clean, Slight Spice

Finish: Wonderfully balanced, Sweet, and Soft

Overall: Damn good, blender knows what they're doing with this one because you can scarcely tell it's blended!

Verdict: Fantastic Whisky, definite purchase for the future!

Day 9

The One Manzanilla Sherry Cask (Blended) - 46.6% ABV - £46

Note: English blended with Scottish "malts"

Colour: Light Golden Yellow

Nose: Peat, Orange Peel, Salty, Subtle Smoke

Palette: Sour, Spicey, Floral, Citrus

Finish: Long and bright

Overall: Another distillery I've visited, but did not buy this particular expression for reasons of it being a blend. And I still hold to that opinion - the sherry is barely perceptible, and I'm not even sure I'm finding it (it may as well just be a ghost in my mind saying it's there).

Verdict: This distillery needs more time to find its feet.

Day 10

Togouchi (Japan) "Premium" Blend - 40% ABV - £45

Colour: White Wine

Nose: Creamy, Vanilla, Grain (lots of grain), Pepper

Palette: Soft, Creamy, Grainy

Finish: Rough, and quite a bit grainy

Overall: The price stood out before I even started; it's about half that of their standard 12-year expression, so this probably isn't as "premium" as the name may suggest. I suspect, in order for it to carry such a low price, this is high in grain Whiskies and other such spirits they can't otherwise sell.

Verdict: Clearly grain based, wouldn't buy, wouldn't drink.

Day 11

Sheep Dip Blend - 40% ABV - £29

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Peaty, Chemical, Salty?, Smokey, Toffee?

Palette: Malty, Brown Sugar, Apple?,

Finish: Soft, Slightly Sour Tang to it

Overall: Not bad for a blend at this price point, feels like a mixture of many, many, whiskies and could be quite young? Maybe only a half dozen years, and twice that many whiskies. Can't really tell what kind of casks it aged in because the flavours are too muddled.

Verdict: Would drink, probably wouldn't buy, even at this price - because it's just too jumbled.

Day 12

Brenne (French) Single Malt - 40% ABV - £59

Colour: Light gold, almost white wine colour

Nose: Floral, Vanilla, Cognac?, Mango

Palette: Mango, Pear, Vanilla, Nutella? (what the heck), Cherry

Finish: Long and soft, almost chocolatey?

Overall: I think this is my first French Single Malt, and it's certainly very interesting. I don't think I've had a single quite like this before, it's genuinely less like a whisky and more like a brandy or cognac.

Verdict: I may have to read into this one a bit, it's quite interesting.

Day 13

Deanston 14 Year Single (Organic) - 46.3% ABV - £75

Colour: Light, very light, almost White Wine colour

Nose: Thyme, Woody, Honey

Palette: Quite the spicy kick, peppery, and maybe Mango?

Finish: Loud and bitey, peppery and spicey, a bit too much for me.

Overall: Heavy Bourbon feeling to it, and then it feels like fresh fill? Not a fan.

Verdict: It's a no from me.

Day 14

Talisker 10 Year Single - 45.8% ABV - £44

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Smokey, Peaty, Apple, Salt

Palette: Peaty, mild sweetness, and maybe some Pear?

Finish: Oof, that's punchy.

Overall: Punchy, and Peaty.

Verdict: I've had this one before, but don't recall it being this punchy. Not my particular type.

Day 15

Maltag "Cosmo" Blended (Japan) - 43% ABV - £60

Blend: Japanese and Scottish

Colour: Dark Golden Honey, would not surprise me to hear it's dyed

Nose: Interesting, Sweet Fruit, Sugar, Plums?, Sherbet?, Chocolate?

Palette: Oily, Fruity, Oaky, Not at all how it smells ..

Finish: Shouty, Quick and Rough, then Soft

Overall: A bit too shouty, feels young and very harsh

Verdict: Nope

Day 16

Tamdhu 12 Year Single Malt - 43% ABV - £44

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Sweet, Red Fruit, Chilli?, Cinnamon, Slight Smoke

Palette: Shouty but soft, Plum, Raisin?, Raspberry?, Sugar, Lemon / Orange Peel

Finish: Looooong (very), lovely burn, Cinnamon and a hint of Chocolate

Overall: Very nice, especially nice in the current cold climate, really warms you up.

Verdict: Will be buying (or maybe the 15).

Day 17

Macmyra Björksav - 46.1% ABV - £60

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Pear, Apple, Citrus, Vanilla

Palette: Lemon, Sharp, Woody but not Oak (weird), Ginger, Winey?

Finish: Slow burn

Overall: My second Swedish Whisky, and neither of them have really stood out.

Verdict: would drink, it's nice, but probably wouldn't buy.

Day 18

Mortlach 12 Year Old - 43.4% ABV - £55

Colour: Dark Gold - do I smell a dye?

Nose: Barley, Toffee, Almond, Pear?

Palette: Oily, Oak, Vanilla, Nutty

Finish: Shouty Burn, however quite short, nutty too

Overall: Ehh, nice burn but fairly boring I think

Verdict: Probably not

Day 19

Lochlea Our Barley - 43% ABV - £44

Colour: Light Gold

Nose: Very Sweet, Feels young?, Honey, Caramel, Orange Peel

Palette: Thick, Oily, Soft, Barley, Almond?

Finish: Oof ... this is young, Shouty but short, then just sort of gone

Overall: Not bad for a first offering from a distillery, it will get better with age for sure

Verdict: Not usually too interested in lowlands Whisky, but this is one to keep an eye on maybe

Day 20

Kaiyo (Japan) Cask Strength - 53% ABV - £110

Note: Teaspoon malt; one teaspoon of another whisky is blended in post maturation; rendering it not a single malt, lowering the price, and not impacting the flavour at all. What a stupid idea ...

Colour: Dark Golden Honey

Nose: A bit nondescript, Orangey, and a bit Oily

Palette: Smooth, Mild Pepper, and some Coffee

Finish: Very long, as to be expected, with soft pepper

Overall: Lovely single cask, and very easy to drink despite the ABV - though quite why it isn't a single confuses me? I can only think maybe it would be too expensive for the Japanese Market?

Verdict: Will probably buy

Day 21

High Coast Hav (Swedish) Single Malt - 48% ABV - £58

Colour: Golden Honey

Nose: Spicy, Orange Peel, Oaky, Marzipan

Palette: Oily, Spicy, Peppery, Mild Citrus

Finish: Bright, Slow, Medium Length, followed by peaty aftertaste

Overall: Hmm, odd

Verdict: I'm not sure about this one, it's slightly strange in that the peat only comes in at the end, which puts me off the next sip slightly

Day 22

Stauning Koas (Danish) - 46% ABV - £60

Colour: Somewhere between Honey and Golden Syrup

Nose: Peaty, Cocoa, Hobnobs?, Spice, Treacle

Palette: Treacle, Apple, Hobnobs again, Apple, and maybe Raisin?

Finish: Slow and Airy, Slight hints of Almond, with Vanilla

Overall: Not bad, much better than I recall from last year

Verdict: Quite nice, would consider buying

Day 23

Macimyra Intelligens 02 - 46.1% ABV - £60

Note: Blended by AI ... apparently (so don't expect much)

Colour: Orangey, almost the same colour as the inside of a Marathon bar

Nose: Rough at first, then softens, Peaty, Young, Woody, and Smokey

Palette: Thin, Medicinal, Orange Peel, Grapefruit?, Maybe Pine

Finish: Loud but relatively short, mild Citrus

Overall: Well ... I went in not expecting much, and I remain thoroughly whelmed

Verdict: Nope

Day 24

Hakushu (Japan) 12 Single Malt - 43% ABV - £170

Note: No, I've no idea why a basic 12 is this expensive either

Colour: Light, and a bit flaxen maybe

Nose: Barley, Nutty, Slightly smokey, maybe some mild chocolate?

Palate: Mildly fruity, but not sweet, Smokey and a little pepper

Finish: Very short, with some orange / grapefruit peel left over

Overall: for the price, I'm confused, usually it pertains to rarity.. but this is a basic 12.. and really nothing special

Verdict: Easy to drink, but won't buy unless it's about 1/3rd the price

Day 25

Yamazaki (Japan) 12 Single Malt - 43% ABV - £130

Note: Flagship single from Japan's oldest malt distillery.

Colour: Orangey Gold, like a Jaffa Cake

Nose: Tropical, Oily, Orange Zest?, Nutty,

Palette: Wintery fruit, with Citrus, and maybe some Rum?

Finish: Medium soft, lingers quite a while moving down slowly, slightly fruity

Overall: Slightly strange, mayhaps this sees a different kind of cask?

Verdict: Nice, but probably won't buy

Day 26

Samuel Gulliver & Co, England N. 6 - 46% ABV - £69

Note: The last from my advent calendar after subbing in Japanese Whiskies for Irish ones

Colour: Very light, probably lighter than most white wines

Nose: Vanilla, Flowery, Light Fruit, Toffee Apple, Very Sweet

Palette: Syrupy, Pepper, Mild Caramel, and of course, Oaky

Finish: Short but loud, with a quick burn and mild spice - definitely spent some time in a Rum cask

Overall: Haven't had many English Malts, this may in fact be only the second?, but it's really nothing special to me

Verdict: Not bad, but wouldn't buy