The Chita Whisky

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The Chita Japanese Whisky Tasting Notes

43% ABV. This single grain Japanese whisky carries no age statement, but has spent time in bourbon, sherry and wine casks of American white oak and Spanish oak.

The Chita Japanese Whisky

Price: £47.30 (Master of Malt)

Tasting Notes

Nose: Corny, creamy and fruity. The corn content hits immediately, along with dried banana chips, sharp apples, raisins and melon rind. Sweet notes of vanilla cream. Like a toasted fruit loaf smothered with melted butter.

Palate: Hobnob oat biscuits, sweet honey and vanilla ice cream. Subtler notes of salted caramel, sesame seeds, mint herbal tea and grape juice.

Finish: Fresh ginger, lemon zest, black pepper and lingering vanilla.

Overall: This dram is reminiscent of a delicate bourbon with added floral notes. I’d say it is an exceptional, distinctive whisky. It is also available for a very reasonable price compared to other Japanese whiskies on the market!

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1792 Small Batch Bourbon

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1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Tasting Notes

46.9% ABV. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is named after the year that Kentucky officially became a state. Though it carries no age statement, the 1792 Small Batch was awarded Silver for Small Batch Bourbon up to 5 Years Old in the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The mash bill for the 1792 Small Batch is undisclosed, all we know is that it is high-rye content (with rumours stating 75% corn, 15% rye and 10% malted barley). Barton Distillery/Sazerac also don’t disclose the number of barrels that defines this bottling as ‘small batch’.

1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Price: £35.90 (Master of Malt)

Tasting Notes

Nose: Sweet and earthy. Notes of fresh vanilla and caramelised sugar, reminiscent of over-cooked pastry, with some stewed raisins and grassy elements along with banana peel and grilled corn.

Palate: Very buttery with a soft rye spice. Baked banana bread with ground cinnamon and sweet red grapes with a touch of dark chocolate.

Finish: The soft rye spice lingers with warm oak and fresh vanilla.

Overall: This is not overly spicy, but there is enough rye to add a level of complexity to this dram. A very traditional Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

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Glenglassaugh Peated Virgin Oak Finish

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Glenglassaugh Peated Virgin Oak Finish – Tasting Notes

46% ABV. This peated Single Malt whisky was matured in first-fill American oak casks and finished for 2 years in virgin American oak. This is the first “cask finish” release from the Highland Glenglassaugh distillery.

Glenglassaugh Peated Virigin Oak

Price: £62.83 (Master of Malt)

Tasting Notes

Nose: Honey barbecued bacon, salted caramel and millionaire shortbreads.

Palate: Sweet and smoky. The honey barbecue from the nose follows through. Burnt sugar syrup and grilled pineapple with the creamy nuttiness from peanut pralines.

Finish: A smoky finish, with the freshness of chilli flakes and menthol.

Overall: Not overly peated, not overly sweet, not overly complex. Simple and balanced.

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Kings County Peated Bourbon

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Kings County Peated Bourbon Tasting Notes

45% ABV and aged for “at least one year”. The mash bill for this unusual bottling is 70% New York sourced corn (from Lakeview Organic Grain) and equal parts peated and unpeated British barley. It is also award winning: San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016 – Double Gold. American Distilling Institute (ADI) Craft Spirit Awards 2016 – Silver.

Kings County Peated Bourbon

Price: £30.67 (for 20cl…) (Amathus Drinks)

Nose: Sweet vanilla, orange peels and a light smoke – like a subtle honey barbecue sauce. Also softer notes of red grapes, dry hay and light leather.

Palate: Initially oranges and burnt sugar, followed by grilled pineapple. Hints of vanilla and tobacco and a touch of aniseed. Salted pretzels.

Finish:  Dry smoke and spices: chilli, black pepper, cinnamon and aniseed. Slightly maritime.

Overall: An interesting mash bill, resulting in a sweet, spicy and lightly smoked dram. It could use a couple more years in the barrel to balance the flavours in my opinion, but you can’t deny that peat and bourbon make a delicious combination. The only thing that is stopping me from buying a bottle is the price.

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Tamdhu 10 Year Old – Revisited

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Tamdhu 10 Year Old Tasting Notes
 
40% ABV and made using peated and unpeated barley, this whisky was matured for a decade in first or second fill sherry casks and is presented in a distinctive art-deco bottle. 
 
Tamdhu 10 Year Old
Price: £33.90 (Master of Malt)
 
Nose: A big hit of red grapes and a subtle raspberry. Sweet marmalade, Victoria sponge cake topped with icing sugar. nutty milk chocolate, honeycomb and a little earthiness from chives.
 
Palate: Orange citrus from blood oranges, crunchy honeycomb, stewed plums, custard cream biscuits and a light earthy spice of cloves.
 
Finish: More blood oranges and stewed plums, with ground ginger and a peppery spice. A long lasting light smokiness.
 
Overall: I’ve revisited this dram a couple of times (see here & here), with slightly different notes each time. What is consistent, however, is the red grapes, honeycomb, and orange zest. This is a fruity and affordable dram for whisky lovers and novices alike. 
 

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