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

Ardnahoe Aqvavitae Small Batch 2019 2025 6 yrs, 55% WB: 282782

Nose (2h): Bon fire, vanilla and sweets. Apples of paradise. Candy floss, but a barbecue or fireplace nearby, no meat yet. Fresh green apples, some banana and coconut. Other tropical fruits are hiding. A teaspoon of water lures out peaches and apricots. A honeydew melon tentatively ventures outside. Creme Brule, pancakes, pannacotta creme.

Palate: So sweet, grilled banana, pineapple, melon, some espresso. Some tannins, Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. Vanilla ice cream with lots of vanilla sauce. Fading summer, last rays of sunshine, once again warm and nice.

Finish: Unexpectedly long, warming, umami, oily, milk chocolate,

cappuccino. Rice pudding without cinnamon, or with? However…

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken." - James Dent

89/90/90

Isle of Raasay for the Maclean Foundation 2019 2025, 5 Years old, #19/1092, 61,1% ABV, WB290184, WB283551

Nose (1h-2h): Cognac flavours and fruit spirit, cherry. Behind the superficial youth there are flashes of preserved dark fruits. However, the youth gains the upper hand in a tingling manner. Alcoholic freshness on the nose, manifested in mint and eucalyptus. Not far from cough drops. Mountain herbs and Klosterfrau lemon balm spirit. Smells like a cold and hospital. Get well soon from the 'Final Touch'. Other glasses reveal sultanas, baker's yeast, bread, caramel, toffee, marzipan, dusty library.

Palate: sage, orange pips, tonnes of bitter almonds. Marzipan with

candied orange peel. I liked the nose much better. No easy drink. Diluting with water does no good. Grappa with very high ABV. No more cognac, no more brandy, 'just' alcohol with flavour.

Finish: The finish is very burning and short, the bitten-through seeds linger unpleasantly in the mouth, the high alcohol burns unpleasantly. The mouth is flooded with grapefruit juice and the white part, the pith, of the grapefruit.

Ultimately a very young and unbalanced whisky. Bought to support the project, but not a real pleasure to drink.

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

88/85/80