Whisky Show 2024 – Ardnahoe

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Ardnahoe distillery in Islay was founded in 2018 by the folks behind Hunter Laing & Co. We decided to explore their offerings on Day 2 of the 2024 Whisky Show in London. They took their time with their first releases in 2024, matured for 5 years.

The Ardnahoe  5 year Inaugural Release 50% GBP 70 (sold out)

We began with the inaugural release which is a mix of 50% ex-Bourgon, 25% Sherry Oloroso, and 25% Sherry PX.

  • Nose – Peat and sweet, you think it will be quite neat!
  • Palate – Big but then surprises you by becoming more and more approachable – orchard fruits joined by a sweet peat, ginger, and a citrus twist
  • Finish – Smoky

Not a bad start at all – quite enjoyable.

The Ardnahoe  5 year Infinite Loch 50% GBP 55

We then moved on to Infinite Loch which is another combination of 85% ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.

  • Nose – Oh yum! Citrus with baked pineapple, chased by peat and a touch of sea salt
  • Palate – Nice and approachable, loads of tropical fruits, spice with a light peaty smoke, hint of chocolate
  • Finish – A nice ginger spice

Very promising!

The Ardnahoe 5 year Feis Ile 2024 59.3% 

We closed with a special Feis Ile 2024 release at cask strength. Our guide shared it is a mix of four ex-Bourbon casks.

  • Nose – A hint of what is to come
  • Palate – Young, sour yet more chey spice
  • Finish – Loads of prickly spice

I have a feeling this dram would do well with a splash of water. However, as we were on a sniff, swish, and spit approach, did not try.

Overall, we quite enjoyed this introduction to Ardnahoe and look forward to seeing where they go next!

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Whisky Show 2024 – Ichiro’s Malts

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Day 1 at London’s Whisky Show included a couple of special Chichibu whiskies, reminding us why Japanese whiskies became so popular and coveted. So on Day 2, we decided to spend a bit of time with their blends – specifically exploring the Ichiro’s leaf line up.

Ichiro’s Malt + Grain World Whisky Blend Limited Edition 46.5%

It was very approachable on the nose, well-structured on the palate – if a bit prickly with spice for a moment before mellowing down, closing with a nicely spicy finish.

And before you completely credit Japan for this blend, you should know it is actually a mix of young whiskies from Japan, combined with whiskies also from Canada, USA and Scotland. 

Ichiro’s Malt 10 year World Blend 48.5%

This was a continuation of the NAS expression, just with more character – juicy and bright. On the palate, it was a bit more woody with a finish that slowly faded away.

Ichiro’s Malt Double Distillery 46.5%

Originally this expression was more Hanyu than Chichibu. Today it is the reverse – much more Chichibu with only a bit of Hanyu – from old stock of the discontinued distillery.

The nose was much more subtle and nuanced than the 10-year-old. On the palate, it was also softer and more elegant, yet with substance. The finish was warm. This was an uncomplicated easy-drinking whisky. 

Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve Blended Malt 46.5%

Now this was a departure. The aromas were tight blueberries, currents with loads of tannins. The palate was savory and sweet with the clear stamp of dark red wine. The finish lingered. 

Ichiro’s Malt MWR Blended Wood 46.8% ~GBP 100

We moved on to the Mizunara Wood Reserve. We found it much fruitier than the others with pears and white peach. There was a subtle smokey perfume – which our guide described as temple incense. He shared how the Mizunara wood is incredibly porous, hence its unique character.

Whilst this was only a simple sniff, swish, and spit through a few expressions, it was nice to visit and in a few cases revisit.

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Whisky Show 2024 – Decadent Drinks

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London’s Whisky Show brought many delights. One was time spent at Decadent Drinks – the folks behind the irreverent Whisky Sponge – which has “retired” as a brand! We didn’t quite get through the full range – yet we definitely covered a gamut from light to heavy moderately aged to mature!

Glen Garioch 21 year (2003 / 2024) 1st fill bourbon hogshead 55.1% 1 of 248 bottles (Decadent Drinks)

Our explorations began in the highlands… 

  • Nose – Fruity, juicy, then shifts into hazelnut chocolate nougat
  • Palate – Lovely fruits n spice n everything nice! Waxy, with a roll around the palate kinda substance
  • Finish – Almost a hint of copper 

What a wonderful way to begin with fruity fabulousness. Yum!

Aberlour 33 year (1989 + 1991 / 1999) Ed No 29, Refill Hogsheads 49.7% (Whisky Sponge) GBP 365

  • Nose – Gorgeous sherry! Unlike some heavy sherry drams – this was not “in your face” – instead just beautiful dark fruits
  • Palate – More elegant and refined than your typical Abelour, lovely balance
  • Finish – Sweet and long

A proper “grown-up” whisky! Sometimes Aberlour with its devotion to full-on sherry can be a bit much – this was incredibly nuanced and complex. Just wow!

Glen Grant 31 years (1993 / 2024) 52.7% 129 bottles (Decadent Drinks – Whisky Land Chapter 3)  GBP 595

  • Nose – Surprisingly strong – rich fruits and how!
  • Palate – What fun! Prickly ginger spice, buttercream
  • Finish – Sponge cake

If the Glen Grant 12 year old from the 1970s was elegance and refinement, this was the crazy cousin showing very different colours!

Notable Age Statements Blend 17 year 53% (Decadent Drinks) GBP 95

As a play on NAS – No Age Statement – the folks at Decadent Drinks have a series of Notable Age Statement whiskies!

  • Nose – Classically elegant
  • Palate – So balanced, sherry berry 
  • Finish – Don’t laugh – but my tasting companion dubbed this quite a “bitchy” finish!

What more do we know? This is what the folks at Decadent Drinks have to say:

This bottling is composed of a 1st fill sherry butt of 2001 blended malt and a 1st fill sherry butt of 2006 Aultmore. The resulting, multi-vintage mix was bottled with slight reduction at 53%.

This is our attempt to create an older style, sherry matured malt whisky profile. Designed to be easy, fruity and highly drinkable with plenty of classical, earthy and elegant sherry character.

Ardnamurchin 7 year Ed No 100 57.9% (Whisky Sponge – final edition)
  • Nose – Sherry joined by glazed maple with a hint of peat
  • Palate – Sweet and a bit sharp – young and brash, then it settled down to become super fruity and juicy, stewed fruits
  • Finish – Quite active
This was a whisky of contrasts – active and sharp then balanced, vacillating in between quite different characters. It was almost as though it had a kind of identity crisis!
 
It all made sense when I looked up more details. Here is what they had to say: 

This is Whisky Sponge Edition No.100. It’s a 2016 and 2017, 7 year old Ardnamurchan small batch.  It’s a potion that Angus cooked up in collaboration with the good folk at Ardnamurchan Distillery. It’s a mix of 1st fill and 2nd fill, peated and unpeated sherry octaves. We mixed them all together and married them in a refill sherry butt for over six months until the whole potion turned 7 years old, then we bottled it with slight reduction at 57.1%. For those of you that deify transparency, here’s the recipe…  

  • 2017 – Unpeated 1st Fill Sherry, Peated 1st Fill sherry, Peated 1st Fill Sherry, Peated Refill Sherry 
  • 2016  – Unpeated Refill sherry, Unpeated Refill Sherry, Unpeated Refill Sherry, Unpeated 1st Fill Sherry 

We wanted to celebrate and mark the final edition of Whisky Sponge with a whisky that was excellent quality, one that was collaborative and that we’d had a role in creating and making unique to us, and that was modern in the best sense and looked to the future. We feel we have succeeded in this – we hope you agree.  

It was quite an interesting experience!

Ledaig 29 year (1995/2024) 52% (Decadent Drinks – Westie Sponge 4)

  • Nose – Coffee, cinnamon, sweet spices, cakey
  • Palate – “I’m here now!” Big, bold, brilliant flavours! Sherry and coffee, cherry, chewy… lightly peated
  • Finish – Long and strong

Westie Sponge is a series devoted to the Western Highlands and Islands – which naturally needed to include this Ledaig from Tobermory distillery from Isle of Mull. 

Bowmore 20 year (2004) 53.3% 171 Bottles (Decadent Drinks – Whiskyland Chapter Two)

  • Nose – Fresh and bright, a delightful sea breeze, perfume then dark fruits, lush
  • Palate – Sweet peat, fruity in perfect harmony, elegant and well-rounded
  • Finish – Lingers

What more do we know? It is a refill hogshead from 2004. In some ways it was an un-Bowmore-like Bowmore – less forceful and more restrained. Lovely.

Ardmore 22 year (1997 + 2000) 53% (Decadent Drinks – Whisky Sponge – Equilibrium 3rd Edition) GBP 215

  • Nose – Love it! Peat and sweet
  • Palate – Perfect balance of peat and sherry, unctuous mouthfeel, meaty yet soft too
  • Finish – Marshmallows and cherry

The deep ruby hues (without any added colour!) means there has been some serious contact with an ex sherry cask! Here’s what else they have to say:

For this final bottling in the Equilibrium series, we took a refill matured 1997 and sherry finished 2000, medium peated highland malt and married them together in a 2nd fill sherry hogshead. That mix was then bottled as this 22 year old with a few degrees reduction at 53%. 

The result is the softest of the three Equilibrium bottlings in terms of peat level, and probably the richest in terms of sherry character. But overall, this is a wonderful, complex and beautifully quaffable sherry and peat influenced dram, one where age and time have also worked some pretty delicious tricks…  

Mortlach 16 year (2007) 48.5% (Decadent Drinks – Equinox & Solstice Summer Edition)

  • Nose – How extraordinary? There was a distinctive chaat masala aroma of black salt! Tangy, tropical fruits
  • Palate – Sherry edge, no lightweight at all. Oily, big and bold. Fruity and full. More of that chaat masala too!
  • Finish – Coffee

It was muscular without being heavy-handed. 

Miltonduff 11 year (2012)  1st Fill Sherry Hogshead 48.5% (Decadent Drinks – Equinox & Solstice Winter Edition) GBP 110

  • Nose – Rich yet not overpowering, juicy fruits then shifts into a mocha sundae, creamy eggnog 
  • Palate – Think of a delicious black forest cake with dark cherries, yet restrained too
  • Finish – Beautiful

A clear Speyside hero in its best form. 

Thank you Elise from Fredericton New Brunswick for making our time with Decadent Drinks so rewarding!

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Whisky Show 2024 – Dream Drams Brora + Glen Grant

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At London’s Whisky Show, one receives a “dream dram” token each day. This is an opportunity to try something well outside the normal “affordability” range!

I was very clear about my choice – as the crowd around Whisky Auction can be thick – the plan was to go there 1st thing. Or more precisely, immediately after our calibration dram of the day – the reliable and most enjoyable Glenfarclas 15 year!

I had my eye on a Glen Grant from the 1970s whereas my tasting companion was after something extra special and fancied the Brora 1981. As his choice was 2 tokens and we had only 2 tokens, we decided to go with his choice. The gent had overheard our debate and made an offer we couldn’t refuse – both!

Brora 23 year (1981 / 2005) First Cask 1556 43% Bottle 756 ~GBP 625

  • Nose – Shy at first then hay
  • Palate – A bit more substance, a hint of spice, sweet, subtle digestive biscuits
  • Finish – Pleasant

Overall I found it pleasant but nothing particularly special. My tasting companion was completely disappointed – felt the hype and the price tag were simply not worth it!

We need to remind ourselves that we are sampling a slice of history – a distillery that had its moment in time before being mothballed. Once known as Clynelish, the style we reputed to be quite different – for some time quite heavily peated then a lighter peat. In this case, to be honest we didn’t catch any peat!

So what about my choice? If the Brora was a bit of a bust, the Glen Grant was a complete hit! 

Glen Grant 12 year (1970s) 43%

  • Nose – Ahhhh….. An absolute delight! Bright and cheerful character, joined by some dark dried fruits topped with honey sweetness… after some time I found a lovely lemon custard pie. Delicious!!
  • Palate – Smooth and soft, then woke-up with pronounced sherry, yet still balanced
  • Finish – Long, strong and lovely

It was the perfect breakfast dram – sweet, classic style. The kind of whisky that will be companionable, joining you on a nice rambling journey. I was entranced and in love!

What followed? We neatly stepped next door to Whisky Sponge. Much like Whisky Auction, every time I passed by the previous day, the throngs were so thick I feared it would be impossible to have the kind of leisurely chatty experience we enjoy. How fabulous to be proved wrong!

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Nurnberg Whisky Explorer’s 2025 kick off!

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In 2025, our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers group abandoned all pretense of mostly monthly gatherings and opted for the more realistic goal of quarterly connects.

Our first session had no designated theme – the choice was entirely up to our four contributors. The result was a terrific combination of distinct drams, each bringing their unique voice to the chorus, with no competition or unfavourable comparisons.

So what did we explore?

  • Dewar’s 8 year Japanese Smooth 43%
  • Woven Homemade 46.4%
  • Green Spot Château Léoville Barton Bordeuax Finish 46%
  • Teerenpeli 10 year 43%

Interestingly, three were blends – two of Scottish origin and one Irish – closing with a special Finnish single malt. For me, it was an evening of mostly revisits – albeit nearly a decade later! Which made it such fun to experience anew!

Dewar’s 8 year Japanese Smooth Mizunara Wood Finish 43% ~Eur 21

Dewar’s is such a well-known blend. And yet, joining the standards are a few expressions that play with different elements – enter the Dewar’s finished in Japanese Mizunara Wood. What did we find?

  • Nose – Warm, honey with a hint of vanilla, shifting into a fresh citrus
  • Palate – It had a prickly spice, oak, a dash of sweet dry spices like cinnamon, and lots of vanilla
  • Finish – Hint of wax or a touch of salt depending on who you asked, quite dry

With a name like “Japanese Smooth”, we anticipated something silky soft with a nuanced floral element, maybe even a bit of light fruit? The mizunara wood finish certainly made this an interesting Dewar’s expression, however, was it floral or fruity? Not so much.

Setting aside preconceived notions, it was just the right way to start our evening and well worth trying. Even with the revisit, after sampling the other three, it held its own.

Woven Homemade 46.4% ~Eur 38 8120 bottles (500 ml)

Imagine entering an apothecary shop… or bringing together a couple of chemist with a wild array of options.. all about crafting an interesting experience. That’s what you can expect with a Woven whisky blend.

  • Nose – Began with lemon custard and butter, warm biscuits, green apple, slightly sour apple sauce
  • Palate – Start creamy, buttery, some rosehip, nutty oil, then shifts into becoming very dry
  • Finish – From lemon drop candy, to nutty butter, increasingly bitter over time

Very distinctive and unique. One described it as “effervescent” reminding him of a children’s fizzy medicine – brausetabletten. For all of us, it was remarkable how its character changed, Really quite interesting from an Apple martini to creamy nutty to dry and bitter. This was no “easy” blend – instead, it challenged us – in a good way. With the revisit, it also retained its specific character.

What more do we know? Only that it is a blend of two Speyside whiskies  (41.78% and 29.99%) and a Lowland grain (28.23%), likely blended 14 May 2023 with 70 days “marrying” period. In character, it was evaluated by the folks at Woven as somewhere between Balanced and Complex. And yes – we appreciated the other options – Fresh and Exploratory. And finally, it has a clear “nod” to BNJ – a bit of a cult whisky blend in some circles that also boasts a high malt portion.

You can find more details here: Woven Homemade.

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton Bordeaux Wine Finish 46% ~Eur 55

We then moved from Scotland to Ireland. This was no ordinary Green Spot! A year ago, our contributor brought the standard edition — a pleasure to revisit! This time, it was the Green Spot expression finished in Bordeaux casks…

  • Nose – It began with melted caramel, tobacco leaf, and tannins, warm and heavy, the longer it remained in the glass, the more prominent the brown sugar aroma became
  • Palate – Very pronounced red wine influence! There was an interesting undertone of oak and tannins, rich, rolling around in your mouth
  • Finish – Long finish, dry

The red wine cask was so prominent, that we speculated they must have finished in a rather “wet” cask, leaving a fair amount of Château Léoville Barton to mingle with the whiskey. Or as one whisky aficionado quipped “This is how wine should taste!”

Truth be told, as we tasted, I didn’t immediately remember being introduced to this expression some six years earlier at an Irish evening in Mumbai! This Is why it is such fun to have random evenings – you never know what will turn up and with it a fresh perspective too.

Teerenpeli 10 year 43% ~Eur 73

For me, the true treat of the night was an opportunity to revisit the Teerenpeli 10 year. It captivated my fancy in 2016 during a Whisky Ladies European focused tasting. How did I discover it? Its launch was at the 2015 London Whisky Show and came to me as a strong recommendation from the lads at TWE. What did we think?

  • Nose – Fruity, with a dusky, earthy element, a puff of smoke, a hint of coastal sea air, chased by vanilla
  • Palate – Incredibly smooth – like sliding into silk pajamas, then being enveloped in a soft velvet lightly peaty embrace, it has a subtle citrus peat, rich and well-rounded with a light heat of pepper
  • Finish – Carries on the warm embrace, with a touch of sea salt

This bottle was purchased by our contributor during a memorable trip to Finland nearly a year ago – just for our wee group to try. And it did not disappoint.

There was such a lot going on – so rewarding! The kind of single malt that evokes an emotional connection, memories of a special lebkuchen with citrusy sugar glaze, or enjoying a sunset outdoors from a porch on a cool fall evening, kept cozy and warm in a fuzzy blanket.

Above, for me, it was such a special treat to revisit – thank you!!

What more do we know? It gains its specific character from Finnish barley malt matured in 85% bourbon and 15% sherry casks. Since I last tried it, they not only refreshed the packaging, Teerenpeli also updated their official tasting notes to:

  • Nose – Butterscotch, vanilla, slightly oaky
  • Palate – Rich maltiness, fruity, smooth vanilla 

Would we agree? Certainly! You can find out more here: Teerenpeli 10 year.

PS Our contributor also highly recommends another Finish spirit – Artic Blue gin.

And there you have it – an evening exploring four distinct drams. Unlike some evenings, all were “hits” with narry a “miss”. Each brought something interesting to expand and challenge our collective tasing journeys. And that is exactly why such tasting evenings are so much fun!

Are you in the area? Interested in joining our Nurnberg Whisky Explorer events? Just comment here with the best way to reach you.

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Whisky Tastings – Planning Coming Attractions for India

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I was back in Bombay, taking stock of what remained in my whisky cabinet – considering what next to bring from Germany in April. It has become a semi-annual ritual – take everything out of the cabinet, properly clean – the ongoing battle against mold and dust! Another element is to re-evaluate what goes into the “top shelf” – assorted liquor and open whiskies available for guests… then close it until the next trip!

This time I also wanted to re-confirm the choices for upcoming sessions, check what remained open, and see if I had missed any in my location tracking – I had indeed!

Selected for our January 2025 evening with the gents:

For an Asia Pacific theme, I have:

  • Australia’s Lark Single Cask (Feb 2010) Cask No LD116 43% purchased many years ago for what seemed a steep price then and now – completely normalized!
  • Japan’s Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve 43% purchased in India
  • Japan’s Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries 46% from the period where there was more Hanyu than Chichibu in the mix. Maybe I should pick up another bottle now before there are no more drops of Hanyu left and this series becomes merely Chichibu I and Chichibu II!
  • Taiwan’s Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask (2011) B111202001A, Bottle 117/200 57.1% picked up at Singapore’s Changi airport years ago!

I’m also ready with a new North Star set featuring:

  • Glen Moray 14 year (Jul 2008 / Mar 2022) 58.8% (North Star Series 018)
  • Aberfeldy 7 year (Jun 2022) 57.8% (North Star, Series 019)
  • Benrinnes 15 year (2007/Jun 2022) 46.4% (North Star, Series 019)

Thanks to some help from a mostly London-based friend, the Chorlton‘s in India are now enough for 2 sets! And I’ve already decided a quartet will go for the 2026 Bombay Malt & Cigar / Whisky Ladies joint evening… the question will be which goes into the final line-up!

  • Miltonduff 16 year (2022) 55.9% (Chorlton)
  • Glen Moray 16 year (2024) ex-Bourbon 52.2% (Chorlton)
  • Glenburgie 14 year (2024) Hogshead 53.9% (Chorlton)
  • Campbeltown 10 year (2024) 58% (Chorlton)
  • Manochmore 16 year (2024) 1st fill Oloroso butt 54.7% (Chorlton)
  • Speyside (Glenrothes) 13 year Speyside (19 June 2008 / Nov 2021) 64.6% (Chorlton)
  • Faemussach (aka BenRiach) 21 year (2022) 56% (Chorlton)

There is also a clear European trio with two That Boutique-y Whisky Co offerings and an experiment from Slyrs

  • Finland – Teerenpeli 5 year 1st Batch 47.6% 230 of 448 bottles (TBWC Wine Cask Series MMXXI)
  • France – Armorik 5 year 2nd Batch 46.4% 194 of 286 bottles (TBWC Wine Cask Series MMXXI)
  • Germany – Slyrs Marsala Finish L1140 46%

Along the way, I somehow managed to acquire a trio from Glentauchers for a single distillery vertical via three different bottlers!

  • Glentauchers 14 year (2008/2022) 46% (Gordon & Macphail Distillery Label)
  • Glentauchers 14 year (2023) 61.6% (Chorlton)
  • Glentauchers 10 year (21 Mar 2013 / 22 Nov 2023) Barrel Cask 800435 58.6% (The Whisky Exchange – The Seasons Spring) –> Added in October 2025!

Plus an assorted group that one could consider a few levels up from standard bar stock:

What’s up for augmentation? Back in early 2025 I had a pair of Rye‘s in need of a 3rd as the original Stork Rye went into making some marvelous Old Fashions a few years ago! Fast forward to late 2025 when my trio was complete by bringing a Rye stored in Canada to India via Germany!

  • AD Laws Secale Rye 2 year 50% 375 ml, purchased in May 2017 via a Colorado connect
  • Millstone 100 Rye Whisky 50% from The Netherlands purchased in 2018 at Mumbai duty-free
  • Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye 45% from Canada, acquired many moons ago when this expression was recognised as the Worlds Best Whisky, brought to India in August 2025

Whilst I don’t have a 3rd rye in Germany yet, this is easily obtained with many options!

If we decide to switch from Whisky to Rum, I also have two rather special options – from Barbados a 10 year old Criterion, and from Jamaica – Royal Vale’s 150/250 Wedderburn 12 year (2006) 62,5%. As a 3rd, I have only a wee mini of India’s Camika to try.

What else? There are a few miscellaneous alternatives that don’t neatly fit into sets:

  • Kininvie 17 year 42.6% – initially prompted by an idea to “de-construct” Monkey Shoulder with its component elements
  • Lagg Peated Bourbon Barrel 1st Batch 60.4% – Bottled by hand at the Lagg distillery in 2020
  • Nc’Nean Organic 46% –> Given away to a favourite actor friend!

Top this off with a bunch of miniatures, and there you have it – cabinet re-org complete! And what fun we have to look forward to over the coming years!

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Elements of Islay – Ma1 54.2%

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Once upon a time, my life revolved around flights between India and the rest of Asia. Nearly every month I would be flying – largely via Singapore – which is how it became almost like a 2nd home! Whilst in India, there were limited options to acquire more interesting whiskies… in Singapore the barrier was simply price! I look back at some of the hefty price tags we regularly shouldered to indulge our passion and sigh… Often we paid double or even triple in Asia vs acquiring in the UK or Europe.

Yet Singapore was in our backyard with easy direct flights from Mumbai and lots of work reasons to visit, so we simply tolerated the high taxes to fuel our whisky fancy. Hence my purchase in 2017 from Singapore’s La Maison du Whisky of this bottle – the 1st expression from Elements of Islay at a hefty $135 for a mere 500 ml! Fast forward nearly a decade with skyrocketing prices doubling dram costs all around the globe, you can still find this bottle from The Whisky Exchange for GBP 150.

Elements of Islay Ma1 54.2%

  • Nose – Curiously, it was a bit subdued on the nose. And yet, once one got past the shyness, there were a lot of briney maritime aromas! Loads of iodine too. Over time the saline gave way to some sweetness however would remind us of its maritime essence with sea spray. In the 2nd tasting, we really gave it time – so it shifted from a carbolic Lifebuoy soap to smoked meat, chipotle sauce with a bit of char.
  • Palate – Oh yum! Mellow peppery ashy with sweeter elements – think sugary water, backed by a vegetal peat
  • Finish – Nice long finish with “thick air”, light cinnamon, coconut shell, overall, an excellent chewy close

When I look back on the photo taken years ago vs when we opened, it was clear that despite being a sealed bottle, some liquid had evaporated. Hence what we tried nearly a decade after being bottled, may not be representative of what we would have experienced back in 2015.

We speculated this may be why the palate was far superior and much more interesting than the aromas. It also needed time in the glass – our revisit after nearly an hour was so much more fruity – both nose and taste. One of those drams, where a quick sniff and swish could be dismissed whereas it has a lot more going on.

So what is Ma1? In the Elements of Islay lexicon, Ma is also known as Bn, i.e., Bunnahabhain, with Ma being the “darker, smokier version of the heathery, briny, unpeated whisky from the distillery.” It was matured in four first-fill bourbon barrels in 2004 and bottled in 2015.

A few of us admitted that of the Islay whiskies, Bunnahabhain actually ranks pretty low. And yet this bottling from Elixir reminds us to keep an open mind!

Here is what the folks over at Elements of Islay had to say about their inaugural Ma expression:

  • Nose – The nose is delicate with a gentle spicy and a sweet undertone. Lightly salted walnut bread, the peatiness is subtle and with time and water releases a lot more zestiness. Warm flavours of peppery flapjacks and sweet charcoal. On the back, a light dustiness, polished furniture and chalk.
  • Palate – Stronger spiciness, black pepper and cumin oat cakes. Creamy, nutty texture with lots of roasted walnuts, brown bread and macadamia sweetness. Wet, damp, drift wood on the beach, Moroccan sweets made with dates, nuts and spices and a hint of chalk.
  • Finish – Lingering dustiness with a hint of 85% dark chocolate on the finish. The dirty smoke evolves into match box and ash.

The thinking behind Elements of Islay when originally launched was:

The medicinal, almost ‘elemental’ character of Islay malt whiskies was the inspiration for the laboratory-style bottle and element symbol/number naming system used across the Elements range (Lp1, Ar2, and so on). Coincidentally, even the 50cl bottle used throughout the Elements range is called ‘pharmacy’. Every Elements bottle also bears the signature of a whisky authority, so you can be confident of the quality of the liquid inside.

The approach has since evolved to anchor expressions around elements like Bourbon, Sherry, Cask Edits, and special festival editions like Fèis Ìle 2024 “Fireside” Exclusive. So whilst we knew without a doubt the liquid we tasted was from Bunnahabhain, if you tried an Elements of Islay expression today, you would not find an indication of which distillery/distilleries went into the bottle.

Remember I mentioned we may not be big Bunna fans? Yet somehow, over the years, we’ve actually picked up or sampled rather a lot of Bunnahabhain :

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Mossburn’s Mannochmore 10 year (2008) 56.1%

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This was my first single malt from independent bottler Mossburn – from their 16th batch from 2018. When debating which Speyside to include in our Scottish Regions theme, curiosity about this dram won! 

For those not familiar, Mannochmore isn’t one of those distilleries that claims 100+ year history! Instead, it was founded in my lifetime – originally opening in 1971 before closing for a few years in the late 1980s. Even after re-opening, for many years it was in production only every alternate year as it shared employees with its neighbour – Glenlossie. It expanded operations in 2013, and is now regularly producing spirit for its current owner Diageo.

Like many Diageo distilleries, much of the liquid goes into blends, then makes its way to independent bottlers like Mossburn with select official bottlings – like their Flora & Fauna series. We’ve had some absolutely marvelous Mannochmore’s from Chorlton – a 12 year and 13 year – so I had rather high expectations.

We opened the bottle in Mumbai early January and tasted it over two sessions – something I very much recommend. Going straight to the punch line – the initial date was underwhelming whereas the second date rewarded us over time with many of the reasons why I’ve been more and more a Mannochmore fan!

Mannochmore 10 year (10/12/2018 – 2008) Batch 16.0708.16 Cask Bill HHD 56.1% (Mossburn Vintage Casks)

  • Colour – Bright gold
  • Nose
    • 1st opening one tasting companion found wet dish rag and simply could not get past the impression of something a bit “off”, there were also overripe fruits, some caramel yet the impression was largely having a subdued nose 
    • 2nd day if we really focused, we could find a hint of wet dish rag, yet for me it had very much evolved moving more into a wet leaf, earthy element, some sour mash then loads of fruits. The more time it spent in the glass, the more fruity and appealing it became
  • Palate
    • 1st we found it really rather yummy, spice, lemon sweets, fuzzy apricot skin, a bit astringent, plum skin then I found tea
    • 2nd we really enjoyed its fizzy almost effervescent quality, joining plum and apricots was peach, with the palate having a marvelous lightly oily element coating our mouths in the most wonderful way
  • Finish
    • 1st Churan – which is a digestive mix of herbs and spices – often containing powdered pomegranate seeds, cardamon, coriander, fennel, cinnamon, dried ginger and lemon plus things you typically won’t find outside of India like pippali, khand, and black salt
    • 2nd Again, we could understand how churan was found and personally, I found it moving more in the tea direction, another lady agreed and added for her specifically it was more like an Earl Grey with bergamot

Overall, the palate is the winner here with the nose catching up if given enough time in the glass. In our first try, we did leave it in the glass for some time and found with the revisit it was much fruitier with loads of character not initially present.

Whereas the 2nd time around we added water – wow! What a missed opportunity for our 1st tasting experience! The fruity elements on the nose were amped up and joined by a lovely floral quality. It became so much more appealing and inviting on the nose than before. And the palate? It rounded out the flavours – delicious. Just a bit of water transforms!

For one tasting companion on our 2nd tasting had the Mannochmore contending for his favourit of the evening!

I couldn’t find official tasting notes… However, particularly on the 2nd evening, we found a fair bit in common with some earlier Mannochmore tasting experiences. 

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Clynelish festival pick

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The danger with a mere sniff, swish, and spit experience at a Whisky Show is that you often miss the nuances of gentler or trickier drams or an instant infatuation later in a different setting with a more considered approach falls flat.

This is why I do my best to be careful when purchasing a “festival pick” (which also comes with an inflated price tag!) to select something that I’m reasonably confident will stand up solo or as part of a more measured leisurely tasting set. In 2023, my London Whisky Show choice was this Clynelish.

Opened in Mumbai January 2025, I sample it over two evenings nearly back-to-back with different whisky enthusiasts and settings as the Highland representative in our Scottish Regions whisky tour!

So what did we think?

Clynelish 12 year (2011/2023) 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel #880297 56.4% (2023 Whisky Show Bottle) GBP 120 / EUR 142

  • Nose
    • 1st tasting – Light nose, a bit shy even, varnish, a dusty shelf, then some sweetness before practically disappearing on us! Eventually, we could tease out some warm pineapple, Mr Kipling’s French Fancies – a sponge cake topped with vanilla cream and chocolate fondant.
    • 2nd tasting – Whilst subtle, the nose was not so elusive this time! The pineapple was much more pronounced, some citrus floral honey, joined by dried shredded coconut, golden sultana raisins, and after even more time even revealed more herbal elements 
  • Palate 
    • 1st tasting – What a fabulous palate! Well rounded sweetness, some lovely spices anchored by black cardamon, cloves and more
    • 2nd tasting – Building on my initial experience, this time the characteristic Clynelish mineral and chalky dimensions were also there, with more olive oil than candlewax – yet finally we gained a hint of that waxy element we’ve come to associate with Clynelish 
  • Finish – A spicy thick finish, super dry almost making one “pucker up” initially, then over time mellows into a lovely lingering sweetness with fresh green aniseed or fennel 
  • Water – Not even tempted if I’m honest. However perhaps in a future sipping, I will put in a splash, just to see what happens! 

You simply MUST take your time with this one. The initial tasting began as a disappointment. My London tasting companion was almost outraged – this COULD NOT be what we tried at the Whisky Show. No no no!

Yet as the Clynelish spent more time in the glass, it transformed – that marvelous alchemy that happens when whisky and air combine. The French Fancies element of sugary sponge cake, powdery icing sugar, gummy bears, fruits like nectarine, yellow plums, and more all gained strength over time. 

This dram goes into the category of “Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!” Clearly, by the time we got to the bottle at the whisky show, it had enough air and time open to immediately reward us.

And yet – we expected to find the classic Clynelish elements – waxy, fruity, mineral… Were they there? Yes. However, it took more time to ease into them, and even then, the waxy dimension was less prominent than anticipated. 

After our experience, I have a feeling this might best be a “solo act” – a whisky for a companionable evening with a fellow whisky enthusiast, where we don’t distract with comparisons and instead simply settle into a leisurely exploration of just this Clynelish.

As for my London tasting friend? He was MOST relieved about the huge difference time the glass made – concluding it was almost like a different dram completely! 

If you are curious to learn more, check out this post from when we sampled it in 2023! As for other Clynelishexperiences? Check out

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Lowland’s Lindores Abbey 1494 1st Release 46%

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At the 2023 Nurnberg The Village Festival, I had the pleasure of attending the Lindores Abbey Masterclass. I found the experience promising though of course some expressions more than others. I had hoped to get the Friar John Cor Cask Strength Congregation Chapter 1 expression however it sold out almost instantly! So instead, I opted for their 1494 inaugural release.

I brought it to India and opened it in January 2025 to kick off our Scottish Regions whisky tour with a calibration dram from the Lowlands.

Once incredibly popular with many distilleries, the Lowland’s became almost a lost region, only now starting to rebuild with distilleries like Lochlea and Lindores Abbey. A Lowland “style” whisky was once known for its slower, softer, floral elements .. of which the pinnacle for many is Rosebank – a true treat if you get an opportunity.

So what did we think? Interestingly, whilst some of the other drams we tried that night had divergent impressions, we were fairly consistent in our experience.

Lindores Abbey MCDXCIV (1494) Commemorative First Release (2021) Cask Bourbon, Sherry, Wine Barrique 46% Eur 66,50

  • Nose – It began with a hint of grain, wet hay, old playdough, then a heavy floral oil, fruity, lemony boiled sweet, then shifted into a lemon custard tart, vanilla cream, doughy pie crust… over time it went from raw dough to a hot cinnamon bun fresh from the oven! Another found a raisiny butter tart. With a lot more time, we even found bubble gum 
  • Palate – Unexpectedly peppery, doughy… not such a promising start however the 2nd set was much better. Yes, it is youthful. Yes, it’s a bit thin. However, once you got past the pencil shavings, the tannins settled down, it was straightforward and inoffensive
  • Finish – A medium finish – straight with more of the tannins and a hint of slightly bitter clove
  • Water – It was tried by a couple with a resounding reaction of “No – don’t”  

Let’s keep in mind this was the 1st release. Young drams have their place and such whisky can often grow into some pretty spectacular liquid with the right focus, balance of art and science, and most important ingredient – time.

If you are curious to learn more about Lindores Abbey, check out these tasting notes: 

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