Campbeltown, Deanston and 30 years

It is time for another month of samples guys - last month I had a few tasting notes provided to me privately through social media rather than in the comments section - not a problem at all - people can be shy. I had a couple of favourites which included:

"like sniffing fresh vanilla on a bee farm with a sweetness of sherry" - The Fool

"having that last cold bit of cappuccino from a cafe after a dark chocolate brownie just as you're leaving" - Intense Arabica

A spare bottle of North Start the Fool is on its way to the lucky winner.

This month you should al receive your samples and our newly made Glencairn glass. What I am able to do for you guys only happens when you guys subscribe - so just a little Thank You and a glass to celebrate many other tasty drams to come. So lets get started...

Deanston Kentucky Cask

To start with, a Deanston matured in Kentucky casks. Kentucky whiskey's need to be made of a mash that contains at least 51% corn and corn is a much sweeter ingredient and often gives bourbons their sweeter tastes – so in return creating a sweeter single malt whisky here. On the nose here you should get a toffee, buttery notes, with elements of oaky vanilla. Quite refreshing. On the mouth a get a creamy peppery taste – pleasant and soft – with that waxy feel you get from a Deanston. The low abv here makes it very palatable and easy drinking. 68/100

Butterscotch & Vanilla & Toast & a Generation 30yr

On the nose you can tell instantly it’s a grain whisky – if you don’t know the difference on the nose, get a single malt (preferably one that’s not finished in a sherry cask or peaty) and give them a nose side by side and you’ll notice a difference. This has a 30yr age statement put to meaning the youngest liquid in this blend will be 30years. On the nose I get farmyard, freshly combined fields and honeycomb. On the palate its that aged smoothness, and this is where that silky butterscotch comes through, waxiness and then lightly toasted wood. The finish isn’t very long which I think is 1 of the disappointing things here and something I feel is common with many grain-based whiskies – it’s just short but sweet with a slight waxiness to it. The other thing here is I think this would have been better at a slightly high abv – 45-48% - just to give some of those flavours more oomph. 63/100

Kilkerran 8yr Sherry Cask Matured

To finish we have a great Campbeltown dram that has been matured in sherry casks for 8 years. I have been wanting to try this for a while, managed to get my hands on a few bottles so thought I would share with you guys. And this doesn’t disappoint. On the nose you get the strong smoked sherry notes, pummelling the nostrils with sweet dried fruits, cherries and Christmas pudding. The taste is not as harsh as the abv would suggest, on the mouth you get smokey syrupy sweetness with cherries, dried fruit and vanilla by a charring fire, really moreish, juicy sherry notes. As well as the expected dusty notes, leather, coffee and walnuts. Charred oak. Plenty of tobacco leaves, pleasant hints of humid cellars in Jerez. Clean and simply good. 87/100