Hogshead Imports is holding a powerful tempo, releasing a whole lot of bottles in a brief timespan. Even his personal web site is essentially old-fashioned. In that case I are inclined to slacken the variety of critiques of any given bottler – there’s simply an excessive amount of to put in writing about – however I couldn’t resist having one other have a look at a few of Toon’s newest picks. So after a set of blended Scotches, right here’s a trio of latest single malt releases. Largely kids.
Lowland 9 yo 2014 (48%, Hogshead Imports 2024, refill hogshead, 442 btl.)
Nearly colourless! Nostril: contemporary and lightweight, with candy grassy notes, easy malty sweetness, rhubarb and juicy pear. Perhaps a faint trace of pineapple. There’s additionally a whiff of fennel and sugar syrup. Easy however nice.
Mouth: nonetheless pretty candy and creamy. Not all the newmake character is gone, however that’s precisely what makes this nice. Loads of pear and apple, with a touch of lemon liqueur. Then a peppery edge and hints of vanilla. Greengage plums. Aniseed and juniper in the direction of the tip.
End: medium, instantly drier and barely acrid, with citrus rind, ginger and a few grassy / natural bitterness.
An fascinating choice. Nonetheless very near the newmake, with restricted complexity. I’m guessing various water has been added to make the spirit accessible, which can have thinned out the construction. That mentioned, it does have a simple appeal that makes you need to come again to it. Cardplayers whisky, as we name it.
Mortlach 9 yo 2013 (58,4%, Hogshead Imports 2024, refill hogshead, 133 btl.)
Nostril: one other new-maky choice. Barely feinty, additionally exhibiting lemons and plums, and a little bit muesli and porridge. Then some mineral notes, like gravel, together with minty notes and hints of yoghurt. Only a whiff of wooden smoke within the distance?
Mouth: barely sulphuric (distillation-related) with hints of burnt herbs, lemon fizz and hay. Grapefruit peels and a few grassy notes. Loads of uncooked grains and white pepper too. Barely tough.
End: medium, nonetheless grainy and tough, with the drying minerals coming again.
That’s the identical trick twice, primarily. Younger spirit may be fascinating, particularly within the case of Mortlach, I’d say. Extra advanced than the Lowlands whisky in actual fact, however this time missing some fruits and common ease of ingesting. Let’s not get over-excited with whisky underneath 10 years: with out playing cards and associates I couldn’t drink an entire bottle. Rating: 82/100
Islay 13 yo 2010 (55,8%, Hogshead Imports 2024, refill barrel, 304 btl.)
Nostril: coastal peat throughout, with smoked fish, fisherman’s rope and charcoal. Moist stones, moist sheep wool, hints of oysters and drying seaweed. Then sharp barley notes, creosote and the great aroma of moist soil. After some time some good lemon notes comes out. A wee Beastie.
Mouth: oily, textured peat, together with iodine, black pepper and sooty notes. Mild vanilla and candy citrus, with a pleasant buttery edge. Brine and grilled fish within the background. Then loads of tar in the direction of the tip.
End: lengthy, peppery, tarry, with the identical splendidly oily texture. A late trace of espresso beans too.
This oozes Islay – that is benchmark fashionable Ardbeg. The oily texture and the darkish, coastal really feel make this a spotlight of this session. Islay pulls off youth higher than some other area, proper? Neglect in regards to the different two: seize a bottle and put it aside for wintertime. Rating: 89/100
