A sharp, earthy Ben Nevis with apple vinegar, manzanilla, mezcal, chalk, oysters and a very long, bitter, peppery, waxy finish.
Metallic and austere, it develops from hay, grass and engine oil into peaches, mangoes and peppered oysters, ending long, herbaceous and distinctly salty.
Exotic fruits arrive straight away on the palate, followed by ashes, oils, seaweed and waxes, with maritime pepper, salt and a touch of bitterness lingering.
A smoky, waxy Mortlach with kerosene, wild mint and smoked meats, evolving into magnificent salted stewed strawberries and a long, unusual finish.
A taut, natural-style Mortlach with fresh apple, lemon zest and saline notes, though its unusual profile might suggest Benromach in a blind tasting.
Pure banana juice with oats and white chocolate on the nose, followed by elegant fruity notes, green banana, green tea, and a saline touch.
A very pretty whisky, combining small apples, mint, toasted sesame and gentle olive oil, with a long, creamy finish of mint, apples and lemon.
A fruity grain whisky with damp earth, geranium, pineapple and coconutty white chocolate, offering pleasant flavours despite its very light texture.
A magnificent young whisky, rich with fudge, roasted bananas and milk chocolate, leading to superb spices and a long, Christmas-style spiced fruitcake finish.
The palate is much better than the nose, offering unusual roasted banana, pepper, curry bread, cardamom and chilli notes with a long, dry finish.
A very pretty whisky with shortbread, damp earth, vanilla and fresh barley, evolving into bittersweet PX, salted butter and peanut butter.
Genuinely pleasant, with briny anchovy, manzanilla and capers, followed by a surprisingly saline finish and returning carrot notes.
Light and fleeting, with fresh wood, vanilla and apple juice on the nose and palate; the reviewer sees room for improvement.
A wood-dominated whisky with intense curry, hay and sawdust, but its extreme style is balanced by a long, reassuring finish of pear juice and fir buds.
An unusual whisky that works surprisingly well on the palate, with pepper, bay leaf, tomato and raspberry, followed by a long, vegetal finish.
A very good fruity malt, full of lemons, yellow plums, barley syrup and quince, though not especially distinctive and lacking much Chichibuness.
Razor-sharp freshness brings limes, ashes and zests, while water reveals fruitiness; the measured peat stays decorative, making this very good but not entirely…
A gentle, tropical fruit bomb with banana, guava and apricot notes—excellent, though it perhaps strays a little from the distillery’s DNA.
