Astra Victoria, TBWC Irish 8yo & Darkness Limited Edition

If good things come in small packages, then these three 50ml bottles are the whisky equivalent of finding a tenner in an old coat pocket. This trio serves up Speyside elegance, Irish charm, and a properly sherried Speyside punch. Let’s nose, sip, and score them – with a few whisky puns thrown in for good measure. After all, life’s too short for a dram without a smile.

Astra Victoria 12 Year Old Speyside Single Malt

An undisclosed Speyside single malt, finished in fresh oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45.8% ABV. The playful label features “constellations” of tasting notes (cinnamon sticks, treacle tins, gingerbread men, walnuts) – a cheeky nod to the stars aligning over Speyside. Available as a 50cl bottle, but the mini is ideal for testing the waters.

Nose: Big and bold – old oak, leather furniture and old books lead into plum jam, barley-sugar sweeties, candied lemon and a distant floral hibiscus note. Mixed fruit jam (berries, apricots, red apples, dark plums, dates), orange peel, tamed cinnamon and cloves, mild menthol honey, new leather and dark-chocolate-coated coffee beans.

Palate: Trail-mix and granola vibes packed with dried-fruit sweetness and candied nuts. Figs, dates and roasted nuts in maple syrup, toasted oak, heather honey, then drying oak with cranberries and blackcurrants. Rich flavour but a touch thinner in body.

Finish: Short-to-medium. Toasted biscuits, oak tannin, soft sweet spices, woody spice, maple syrup and fruit sponge. Old, tannic, dense sherried oak wraps it up.

Score: 82/100A solid, approachable Speysider that lets the cask do the heavy lifting. Quaffable Christmas sipper rather than full-on sherry bomb – “it’s written in the stars,” as the label suggests, but the constellation is more everyday than celestial.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company: Single Malt Irish Whiskey 8 Year Old

Independently bottled by the irreverent That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC). Batch 2 (876 bottles) from an undisclosed Irish distillery, aged 8 years, bottled at 45.7% ABV. The comic-book-style label playfully references the common misconception that all Irish whiskey is triple-distilled. Classic TBWC fun packaging for a serious single malt.

Nose: Apricot, whipped cream, honey and barley. Lots of chocolate brownies, charming spices, woody notes and maltose. Rich depth with caramel, spice and orchard fruits (apples).

Palate: More honey! More apricot! A little cracked black pepper at the core. Chewy chocolate, granola bar, caramel, spice and a touch of honey – mouth-coating. Slightly bitter almonds, applesauce-like sourness, chocolate, woody maltose, a hint of salt and rich nuts.

Finish: Medium-long. Buttered toast and Seville orange marmalade. Dry cacao, spice and woody notes linger nicely.

Score: 87/100Creamy, fruity and approachable with real character for an 8-year-old. Boutique-y does it again – a star of many tasting sets and a clear crowd-pleaser.

Darkness Dailuaine 9 Year Old Limited Edition (Amontillado Cask Finish)

From Speyside’s Dailuaine distillery (Gaelic for “green valley”), independently bottled by Darkness. Nine years old, finished in specially coopered 64-litre amontillado sherry octaves for intense wood and sherry interaction. Limited to just 340 bottles, bottled at a hefty 61.9% ABV in 50cl format. Dailuaine’s naturally weighty, meaty spirit shines with this savoury-nutty finish.

Nose: Dynamic and spicy, with hints of dark soy and hazelnuts. Yeasty malt, candied nuts and dark chocolate promises.

Palate: Salted caramel, fresh yeast, dark chocolate and plums. Lip-smacking layers of yeasty malt, candied nuts and rich dark chocolate. Umami depth that keeps drawing you back.

Finish: Nutty, sweet and spicy. The umami effect demands another sip – lingering and moreish.

Score: 88/100This one goes to the “dark side” in the best way. High strength, intense octave finish and Dailuaine’s robust character deliver serious impact. Limited edition for a reason – a proper sherry-lover’s treat that punches well above its age.

Head-to-Head Comparison

All three are 50ml-friendly explorers, but they take very different paths:

• Style & Region: Astra Victoria is classic sherried Speyside comfort (12 years of gentle maturity). The TBWC is pure Irish single-malt sunshine – fruity, creamy and approachable at just 8 years. Darkness Dailuaine is Speyside turned up to 11: youthful but massively influenced by those tiny amontillado octaves and high ABV.

• Intensity: Darkness wins for power and complexity (that 61.9% and umami kick). TBWC offers the most balanced, easy-drinking pleasure. Astra sits comfortably in the middle – solid but not show-stopping.

• Who wins the glass? For everyday sipping and pure enjoyment, the TBWC Irish edges it with charm and drinkability. For impact and sherry depth, Darkness takes the crown. Astra is the reliable Speyside friend you always keep around.

• Value in miniature form: Perfect for deciding whether to hunt down the full bottles. The limited Darkness will be the hardest (and most rewarding) to find.

Whether you’re “barley” making it through the week or ready to “raise the bar,” these three prove that size isn’t everything – flavour is. Which one would you reach for first? Sláinte!

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• Astra Victoria
• TBWC 8yr Irish Malt
• Darkness Daluaine