Meikle Tòir 5 yrs Glenallachie The Turbo 2025 50%, WB282226

I was quite impressed by this one’s previous twins and siblings. Finally, some successful experiments from Billy Walker. In some circles, Turbo is considered the new Octomore, but I don't know — we shouldn't get carried away. It has its merits, though. Octomore, however, is a different story. What story does this one tell us?
Nose (hours and hours): It's walking in the forest at night. Why? It's a blind tasting; I can smell truffles and other brown mushrooms. It's like burying your nose in the forest floor. There is a dinner going on; meat is being served, heavily fried with lots of umami. I can smell all kinds of sauces, such as balsamic, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and Japanese fish sauce. There is a camp fire in not so much distance. Now I can smell pears, but they are heavily fermented, along with all kinds of other fruits in the middle of a fermentation process.
Palate: A camouflaged sweetness that is easily exposed. Why? Because there is profound saltiness going on here. It is a perfumed experience with some sweet dried fruits, such as apricots and sultanas. Now I can smell sandalwood and liquorice.

Finish: The finish is smoked tofu with a medium length. A creamy sensation lingers alongside dried porcini mushrooms. One should drink more often at night because, as a famous man once said: 'I often think that the night is more alive and more richly coloured than the day' — Vincent van Gogh.
90-89-89

Bunnahabhain 23 Feis Ile 2024 - Triple Sherry Wood Finish 2023 53.3%, WB249710

This one is quite polarising. The ratings range from 63 to 99, so let's try to form our own opinion. 
Nose (4h): Burnt matches, silent fireworks, not much fire, sulphur. Hidden behind the sulphur are hints of sweetness. All kinds of berries. There's cotton candy at the fair, and hints of sweets being sold on every corner. Hints of dates, rum raisins and stewed plums emerge. But instantly, those aromas are suffocated by a devilish cloud of sulphur.
Palate: It could have been nice; it could have been a wonderful dram. I could have told you about apple juice, pineapple and other tropical fruits, as well as dark fruits, dates, nuts and dried figs, BUT there is a coating of coriander flavour that covers all the other subtle flavours. Sulfur takes over. A sulphury VIP is claiming: 'We'll take it from here...' 

Finish: It could be a pleasant, lingering finish. But it isn't. Fresh coriander slaps you in the face. If you don't like it, you'll just taste soap. This one is a tragic soap opera in the end.
But, as the saying goes: 'This too shall pass.' —Persian adage. 

89/85/84

Raasay Oak Species Maturation 2025 50.7%, WB278860, WB278859, WB278858, WB278857

When I was watching my favourite series for the fifth time, I suddenly became aware of the word 'borborygmus' in an episode. It is commonly associated with hunger and an empty stomach, but it can occur at any time, whether the stomach is empty or full.
To be honest, those Raasays don't make me hungry. They are still very young, unbalanced and experimental. Here we have different oak maturations, from left to right: Quercus humboldtii Colombian oak (RH), Quercus petraea Hungarian oak (RP), Quercus robur French oak (RR) and Quercus muehlenbergii chinkapin oak (RM). Do we have a chance of telling the difference? Yes, we do.

Nose (3h):

RH: Mustiness, some old cellar, no wine though. Powder sugar, sugar canes, young rum. After a while cider. 85

RP: More sugar canes, almost demerara, sweet almonds. Maybe cherries, maybe cranberries. Orange marmalade. Other jams jamming. 87

RR: This one is an old wine cellar. I get leather, tobacco, wood, library, no fruits nor vegetables, maybe forest. 89

RM: Oh, I smell nothing… a bit of a sea breeze, surf, hints of seaweed saltines. Subtle maritime. 83

Palate:

RH: Sugar water, white tea, hint of apple juice and a few drops of grapefruit. 85

RP: Red wine, like Montepulciano, Hints of marzipan. 85

RR: Red wine, like blue Portuguese, subtle sweetness, wine juice. 85

RM: Very unspectacular. A very thin white wine juice. Maybe hints of lychee. 82

Finish:

RH: A bit oily, bitter almonds, lemon oil, medium long. 84

RP: Dry, Tannins, oaky, Brazil nut, medium long. 85

RR: Medium dry, Tannins, mouth coating, a bit short. 84

RM: Vanishingly short finish, reminiscences of some sweet white wine. One or two tannins that’s it.  80

Interesting, I don’t have expected that. But as a great guy once said: "If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail". – Heraclitus.

Lagg Small Batch Ex Palo Cortado finish 2025, 56.2 %, WB279436

Hearing the words 'Palo Cortado' gives me goosebumps. According to the Wikipedia article, Palo Cortado is a rare variety of sherry that is initially aged under flor to become a fino or an amontillado. However, it then loses its veil of flor and begins ageing oxidatively, like an oloroso. The result is a wine that combines the richness of an Oloroso with the crispness of an Amontillado. This kind of sherry is extremely tasty yet very complex. Does this whisky inherit those features? No.

Nose (2h): Medium-rare steak, campfire, BBQ and campfire bread – that dough you stick on a stick and grill. There are also some floral fragrances, such as roses. Clove and cinnamon can also be detected. There's nothing Palo Cortadish yet, just dates and a hint of plum jam. The cigar smoke lingers for a while, mixing with the roastiness.

Palate: It begins with a burning sensation and a sharp arrival, yet it is thin. It lacks aroma and has a little peatiness and oiliness, as well as a aromaless wateryness. There are hints of sage, almonds and maybe other nuts, as well as nutmeg, cinnamon and clove. A hint of Christmasness.

Finish: Extremely short. I could stop here. But let's double-check. Interestingly, despite the high ABV, there is no trace of it in the aftertaste.

To be honest, I have had better Laggs, but I am not giving up on them and am willing to try new releases. As a great man once said: 'Life is short, kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly.'

– Paulo Coelho.

84/83/80