Top 10 Whiskies of 2019 – No. 6

Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength 2018 Edition Single Malt Whisky – 70cl 56.5% – £45.99

Glengyle whisky distillery was opened in 2004, making it one of the very newest distilleries in Scotland. However, it is not entirely original, and is built on the site of and using some of the buildings of the old Glengyle distillery, which operated between 1872 and 1925.

Due to its youth the only Glengyle whisky currently available is aptly named the Kilkerran ‘Work in Progress’; the distillery aims to release its first official batch around 2012.

Kilkerran Single Malt is a lightly peated, double distilled whisky which is not chill filtered and has no added colouring. Maturation Recipe – 100% bourbon casks.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This exquisite nose begins with a gentle hint of worn leather and pipe tobacco. Changing now to a much sweeter note with sponge cake, vanilla pods and clotted cream combining with some citrus and fruits in the form of key lime pie and green apple skins.
Palate: Good cask influence here with lots of sweetness from the bourbon casks. Golden syrup cake, banoffee pie and toasted marshmallows just some of the desserts you could find in this dram.
Finish: The light peat becomes more apparent on the finish, along with an earthy dunnage note typical of Campbeltown whisky. This if followed by a herbal grassy note, marzipan and grape peel.

Slanje, Anthony

Top 10 Whiskies of 2019 – No. 7

Glendronach Peated Port Wood – 70cl 46% – £79.99

In at No.7, as a follow up to its first peated single malt Scotch, the Glendronach Peated Whisky, Glendronach have now created this wonderful peated malt, finished in Douro Valley port pipes!

The GlenDronach Peated Port Finish is a nod to the nineteenth century tradition of importing casked port into Scotland.

With an ABV of 46% this malt has been bottled without an age statement giving this crisp and sweetly-scented malt aromas of perfume though plenty of charred oak comes through on both the palate and finish.

Limited to 1 Bottle Per Customer.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: Plumes of charred oak rush through the nose, reveailing hints of green peppercorn and chalky muesli.

Palate: A crisp delivery brings touches of fermented strawberry preserve with vanilla sugar and a note of doughy churros. steamed oranges and cranberry sauce, with peach cobbler, stewed barley,

Finish: Ashy oak, a little honey and an earthy smoke linger revealing a slight grassiness on the finish, as well as a lick of peppermint.

Slanje, Anthony

Top 10 Whiskies of 2019 – No. 8

E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Whiskey – 75cl 50% – £89.99

My first bourbon on the list is this stunning dram from E.H Taylor.

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased what is now called Buffalo Trace Distillery.
During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today, including climate controlled aging warehouses.
E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel is aged exclusively in Warehouse C, which was built by Taylor in 1881 and proven to be an excellent aging warehouse.
Each barrel is hand-picked and Bottled in Bond at 100 proof to honor its namesake.

Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma carries lightly toasted oak, with dried figs and butterscotch.
Palate: One sip brings flavors of sweetness balanced with tobacco and dark spices.
Finish: Long enough to prepare the palette for another sip.

Slanje, Anthony