Community

Elena Vasquez on Barrell Seagrass Rye Whiskey American Rye Whiskey

9/10

Ocean in a glass

The seagrass finish on this rye is unlike anything else I've tried. You get this gorgeous mix of coastal brine and tropical fruit on the nose, then the rye spice kicks in at 60.1% — it's hot but never harsh. Worth every penny of that £93.

Kai Oliveira on Craigellachie 2008 / 17 Year Old / Duncan Taylor Octave Speyside Whisky

8/10

Solid but needs time to open up

Don't rush this one. Straight from the bottle it's a bit hot and closed off at 54%, but give it 20 minutes in the glass and it really blossoms into this rich orchard fruit and vanilla thing. Added a few drops of water and got lovely baking spices and a long warm finish. Good stuff.

Isabella Rossi on Macallan Classic Cut 2023 Release Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

8/10

Rich and punchy

The 50.3% ABV really lets the sherry influence shine without needing water. I get dried orange peel, Christmas cake, and a long spicy finish. For a no-age-statement Macallan this one actually delivers. I'd buy another bottle at this price point.

Zara Al-Hassan on Talisker 2011 / 8 Year Old / Rum Finish / Special Releases 2020 Island Whisky

8/10

Rum cask works brilliantly here

The rum finish on this Talisker is something else — tropical fruit and brown sugar layered over that classic maritime peat. At 57.9% it's got serious punch but a few drops of water opens it right up. Picked this up from the 2020 Special Releases and I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Elena Vasquez on Corowa 4 Year Old / Batch 2 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Australian Whisky

8/10

Great conversation starter

Brought this to a tasting night and everyone wanted to know about it. The tropical fruit notes caught people off guard — nobody expected that from a 4 year old. Batch 2 feels well put together and drinks older than its age statement suggests. Would happily share this one again.

Luna Chavez on Barrell Vantage Bourbon American Bourbon Whiskey

8/10

Punches above its price

For a blend of straight bourbons at cask strength, this is seriously well put together. Big caramel and dried cherry on the nose, with a spicy cinnamon finish that lingers. I sip it neat and it drinks easier than 56.7% has any right to.

Ingrid Holm on Craigellachie 2007 / 16 Year Old / Old Malt Cask Speyside Whisky

9/10

This is what IB Speyside should taste like

Bought a bottle after sampling at my local and I'm glad I did. The nose is all honey and ripe pear, neat it opens into baking spices and this lovely creamy vanilla that I associate with good refill casks. At 50% you get the full experience without needing to add water, though a few drops bring out even more fruit. One of my favourite Craigellachies so far.

Priscilla Nunes on Bell's Extra Special / Bot.1980s Blended Scotch Whisky

8/10

Proper nostalgia in a bottle

Picked this up at auction hoping for that old-school Bell's character and it didn't disappoint. Lovely toffee and dried fruit on the nose, with a gentle smokiness that modern Bell's just doesn't have. At 40% it's easy drinking neat, and the blend is well balanced — malt and grain working together rather than fighting. Pricey at nearly a hundred quid but you're paying for a piece of history.

Connor McBride on Tomintoul 2008 / 15 Year Old / Madeira Finish Speyside Whisky

7/10

Nice but not quite there

Pleasant whisky, don't get me wrong. The Madeira cask adds some interesting berry and toffee notes, and it's smooth enough at 46%. But for £100 I expected a bit more complexity — the mid-palate feels a touch thin and the finish drops off quicker than I'd like. I keep reaching for it though, so maybe that says something.

Felix Moreau on Glen Elgin 2007 / 17 Year Old / Oloroso Cask / Single Cask Nation Speyside Whisky

9/10

Punches well above its price

I've had sherried Speysides at twice the price that weren't half as good as this. The nose alone is worth the £95 — dark honey, cinnamon, dried apricot. At 57.5% it's a sipper for sure, but every sip reveals something new. Single Cask Nation consistently picks winners and this 2007 vintage is no exception.

Carlos Mendez on Allt A'Mhullin (Ben Nevis) 1991 / 30 Year Old / Rosie's Cask Highland Whisky

9/10

Worth every penny for a special occasion

Bought this for my 50th birthday and it did not disappoint. The nose is all dried fruits and old leather, with this gorgeous honeyed oak on the palate. At 48% it's got just enough kick without being harsh — I added a few drops of water and it opened up beautifully. Yes it's expensive, but for a 30-year-old Ben Nevis, I'd do it again.

Dmitri Volkov on Langatun 2016 / 6 Year Old / Monbazillac Cask Finish Swiss Whisky

8/10

Lovely dessert wine influence

The Monbazillac cask finish really comes through here — lots of honeyed stone fruit and a touch of apricot jam on the nose. At 49.12% it carries decent weight without being harsh. I sip it neat and keep going back for more. For a 6 year old Swiss single malt, this punches well above its age.

Diana Cruz on Ardmore 12 Year Old / Seyton / Household Series / Macbeth Act One Highland Whisky

7/10

Nice but pricey for what it is

Look, it's a decent 12 year old single malt with some interesting smoky character and a lovely honey sweetness underneath. But £98.50 for an Ardmore? That's Ardbeg Uigeadail territory. I enjoyed drinking it on the rocks and the finish is long with pepper and oak, but I'm not sure I'd buy another bottle at this price point.

Astrid Nilsen on Miltonduff 2008 / 17 Year Old / PX Finish / Duncan Taylor Octave Speyside Whisky

8/10

Solid but not cheap

Good whisky, no question. Rich sherry influence with raisins and orange peel, classic PX stuff. I do think £95 is a bit steep for a Miltonduff though — it's not exactly a household name distillery. Added a few drops of water to tame the 54.1% and it opened up nicely with some vanilla and cinnamon.

Mia Sundberg on New Riff 6 Year Old Malted Rye Kentucky Straight Malted Rye Whiskey

7/10

Solid but not cheap

Good whiskey, no doubt about it. The nose is all cinnamon and toasted grain, and the palate delivers with a peppery kick that lingers. At nearly a hundred quid though, I expected a bit more depth for a 6-year-old. I'd buy it again on sale but probably not at full price.

Priya Sharma on Balmenach 2011 / 10 Year Old / Virgin Oak / Hart Brothers Speyside Whisky

9/10

Virgin oak does wonders here

I'm a sucker for virgin oak maturation and this one nails it. Big bold flavours — rich caramel, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, and a peppery kick from that 58.6% ABV. Had it neat over the course of an evening and it just kept opening up. Hart Brothers picked a cracking cask here. One of the better independent Balmenach bottlings I've tried.

Rafael Santos on Box American Oak Swedish Single Malt Whisky

9/10

Sweden's best kept secret

I grabbed this on a whim and honestly wasn't expecting much from a Swedish distillery. Wow, was I wrong. At 50.8% it's got real punch — loads of vanilla and toffee from the American oak, with this lovely orchard fruit sweetness underneath. I drink it neat and it doesn't need a drop of water.

Idris Ibrahim on Filey Bay Yorkshire Day 2025 Yorkshire Single Malt Whisky

9/10

English whisky is having a moment

I bought this specifically because of the Yorkshire Day release and I'm so glad I did. The nose is all baked apple and toffee, and at cask strength it just coats your palate beautifully. One of the best things I've tried from an English distillery, full stop.

Sibel Nur on Corowa 4 Year Old / Batch 2 / That Boutique-y Whisky Company Australian Whisky

8/10

Great conversation starter

Brought this to a tasting night and everyone wanted to know about it. The tropical fruit notes caught people off guard — nobody expected that from a 4 year old. Batch 2 feels well put together and drinks older than its age statement suggests. Would happily share this one again.

Victor Osei on Glencadam 2008 / 15 Year Old / Madeira Finish Highland Whisky

7/10

Solid but not spectacular

It's a well-made Highland single malt with a pleasant Madeira influence — stone fruits, a bit of honey, gentle spice. Nothing wrong with it at all, but for £100 I was hoping to be blown away and I wasn't quite. A couple of drops of water open it up nicely though.

Top Contributors

1. 1.
   Clara Johansson 210 reviews
2. 2.
   Priya Sharma 180 reviews
3. 3.
   Natasha Volkov 135 reviews
4. 4.
   Gianluca Ferro 130 reviews
5. 5.
   Luna Chavez 120 reviews
6. 6.
   Oscar Delgado 100 reviews
7. 7.
   Tyler Bennet 100 reviews
8. 8.
   Olivia Park 95 reviews
9. 9.
   Marco Andretti 90 reviews
10. 10.
    Freya Lindqvist 80 reviews