Red Hare's Adventures in Whisky

Indri Dru Cask Strength

2026-09-04T20:01:00.000+01:00

Indri Dru Cask Strength

Official bottling
Single malt - Piccadily
Amber
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, rye bread, black pepper, lemon zest, surgical spirit, hints of orange peel. With water, orange peel, honey, hints of surgical spirit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Orange peel, white grapes, honey, vanilla, black pepper, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, raisins, black pepper, hints of surgical spirit.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, orange peel, raisins, honey.

Comments:

Feinty to the point of plasticky, but has some caraway, seedy notes. The strength doesn’t contribute much in my view, just alcohol burn. Water brings out some more spirity notes.

Verdict:

I like this.

Einar’s Distillery 5yo

2026-09-04T20:00:00.000+01:00

Einar’s Distillery 5yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Nordoyar
Straw
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, malted grains, pears, fresh cut grass, eucalyptus, honey.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, mouth coating, slightly oily.

Tasting: Sweet. Malted grains, raisins, pears, caramel, menthol, fresh cut grass, lemon zest.
Finish: Long. Honey, pears, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, hints of eucalyptus.

Comments:

Grassy and mentholly, with herbal notes. There’s a smidgen of peat in this, but it’s very light, grassy rather than earthy. The natural sweetness of the whisky stands out.

Verdict:

I like this.

Blackwater 5yo 2019/2024 PMD II: Return of the Dragon

2026-09-02T20:02:00.000+01:00

Blackwater 5yo 2019/2024 PMD II: Return of the Dragon

Official bottling
Single malt - Munster
Golden
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Limes, pears, leather, white grapes, honeydew melons, mint. With water, dried pears, dried pineapples, honeydew melons.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, loosens, tingly.
Tasting: Sour. Honeydew melons, white grapes, peat, leather, lemon zest, pears, hints of smoke. With water, malted grains, white grapes, pears, hints of new plastic.
Finish: Medium. Fresh cut grass, mint, pears, white grapes, hints of smoke.

Comments:

Barrel BBL000052. Really quite fruity and flavourful for a young whisky. Irish whisky usually uses some pot still make to achieve this effect but there’s no hint of that here. Well made and delicious.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bonnington 5yo 2020/2025

2026-09-02T20:01:00.000+01:00

Bonnington 5yo 2020/2025

Fruitful Spirits
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber
63.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tires, honey, apricots, smoke, peat, limes, farmyard, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, smoke, peat, charcoal ash.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Tires, farmyard, malted grains, honey, burnt sugar, smoke, peat. With water, limes, smoke, peat, malted grains.
Finish: Medium. Limes, fresh cut grass, smoke, peat.

Comments:

Unbalanced and sulphurous, quite grassy but also with a suspicious-tasting farmyard note. Water improves it, brings out some zesty citrus and a little ashy note that is more typical of peated whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Glenfarclas 190th Anniversary

2026-09-02T20:00:00.000+01:00

Glenfarclas 190th Anniversary

Official bottling
Single malt - Speyside
Dark amber
51.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, strawberry sweets, black pepper, cloves. With water, dark chocolate, raisins, honey.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet. Honey, coffee, black pepper, strawberry sweets, nutmeg, raisins, hints of pomeloes. With water, nutmeg, dark chocolate, raisins, honey.
Finish: Medium. Honey, coffee, black pepper, raisins, dark chocolate.

Comments:

Quintessential Speyside whisky, very representative of Glenfarclas, yet has a distinct strawberry flavour of its own. Well crafted and excellent dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Lochrann Aoire (Shepherd’s Lantern) 3yo Barrel No 1

2026-08-25T20:02:00.000+01:00

Lochrann Aoire (Shepherd’s Lantern) 3yo Barrel No 1

Scaire Uisce
Single blend - Leinster
Amber gold
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, barley sugar, black pepper, magic marker, strawberries, hints of cinnamon. With water, caramel, barley sugar, fresh baked bread.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Malted grains, vanilla, milk chocolate, caramel, barley sugar, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, hints of black pepper. With water, milk chocolate, caramel, pears.
Finish: Medium. Caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon, fresh baked bread.

Comments:

This has a bit of pot still in it if I’m any judge - there’s that spikiness and barley sweetness that I associate with it. The malt contributes the chocolatey, creamy notes of course, along with the bread and cereal. Decent dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

2026-08-25T20:01:00.000+01:00

Van Brunt Stillhouse Rye Lot 23

Official bottling
Single rye - New York
Amber copper
42% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, nectarines, parchment paper, black pepper, applesauce, hints of green tea.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Parchment paper, peaches, applesauce, cinnamon, gooseberries, caramel, hints of green tea.
Finish: Medium. Green tea, caramel, raisins, dark chocolate.

Comments:

Quite tannic and herbal for a rye, and also quite delicate. There’s a slightly dusty, papery quality to it, one that goes well with the fragrant green tea notes. Rather unusual and rather good.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Annandale 8yo Defender of the Crown

2026-08-25T20:00:00.000+01:00

Annandale 8yo Defender of the Crown

Whiskyheroes, Brave New Spirits
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold
52.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, germolene, raisins, sea salt, white grapes, smoke, leather, autumn leaves. With water, leather, raisins, cocoa nibs.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, hot, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Germolene, raisins, white grapes, honey, soot, smoke, hints of gentian. With water, smoke, germolene, cocoa nibs.
Finish: Long. Raisins, white grapes, smoke, germolene.

Comments:

Quite sweet and delicate despite the peatiness of the distillate. It’s characteristic of Annandale in my view. Rather well aged, with layered complexity. Very well constructed whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Arbikie 10yo The Signature

2026-08-24T20:03:00.000+01:00

Arbikie 10yo The Signature

Official bottling
Single malt - East Highlands
Golden
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, mangoes, orange peel, gooseberries, peaches, dunnage, malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, expands, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Peaches, orange peel, dunnage, malted grains, cinnamon, gooseberries, hints of black pepper.
Finish: Short. Aluminium foil, peaches, gooseberries, mangoes, magic marker.

Comments:

Lots of peach notes, as well as very funky dunnage, although it doesn’t take over the whisky as much as some others. Other fruits are also present, with a sweet barley cereal core.

Verdict:

I like this.

Brenne 10yo Limited Edition (bottled 2017)

2026-08-24T20:02:00.000+01:00

Brenne 10yo Limited Edition (bottled 2017)

Official bottling
Single malt - Poitou-Charentes
Straw
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, honey, honeydew melons, mint, lemons, hints of bubble gum.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, tingly.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Photocopy paper, spearmint, fresh cut grass, bubblegum, pineapples, mangoes, honey, lemons, hints of green tea.
Finish: Short. Honey, lemons, fresh cut grass, spearmint.

Comments:

Still fruity, but with other flavours, mainly herbal and a little floral. It’s now recognisably whisky, whereas in its early days this distillery made something deeply weird.

Verdict:

I like this.

Maker’s Mark London Edition No 3

2026-08-24T20:01:00.000+01:00

Maker’s Mark London Edition No 3

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Chinese tea
55.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Blackcurrant cordial, brown paper, popcorn, magic marker, raisins, honey. With water, raisins, magic marker, blackcurrant cordial, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, mouth coating, volatile.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Blackcurrant cordial, brown paper, popcorn, cloves, sea salt, hints of fried eggs. With water, raisins, blackcurrant cordial, popcorn, cinnamon.
Finish: Medium. Pears, magic marker, raisins, popcorn.

Comments:

Sweet and spicy, lots of estery, blackcurrant notes. A decent buttery bourbon, lots of popcorn notes but also complex. There’s even a hint of fried egg on the tongue, slightly sulphurous.

Verdict:

I like this.

Pokeno Triple Distilled 3rd Edition

2026-08-24T20:00:00.000+01:00

Pokeno Triple Distilled 3rd Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Waikato
Golden
49% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, butter, pears, cantaloupe melons, honey, malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Cooked rice, cream of wheat, malted grains, honey, magic marker, pears, cantaloupe melons.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, pears, malted grains, honey.

Comments:

Quite fruity with a creamy base. Plenty of delicate cereal notes underlying that fruit, and it’s still layered and complex enough for those notes to come through. Rather good.

Verdict:

I like this.

Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask

2026-08-15T20:00:00.000+01:00

Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask

Official bottling
Single malt - Leinster
Dark gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, magic marker, pears, pineapples, malted grains, hints of cardamom.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, thickens, slightly chalky.
Tasting: Sour sweet. White pepper, honey, pear drops, caramel, cardamom, malted grains, hints of pears.
Finish: Short. White pepper, cardboard, honey, caramel, magic marker.

Comments:

Fruity with a spiky edge, that’s the pot still. Pineapples and some cardamom make it interesting but it’s let down on the finish with slightly bready cardboard note.

Verdict:

I like this.

Kavalan Lan

2026-08-13T20:00:00.000+01:00

Kavalan Lan

Official bottling
Single malt - Yilan
Amber
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, sandalwood, black pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, hints of soot.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, mouth coating, expands.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. White pepper, raisins, prunes, vanilla, blueberries, sandalwood, dark chocolate.
Finish: Short. Coffee, dark chocolate, aluminium foil, raisins.

Comments:

Fruity, with some spicy notes, but overlaid with a woody, floral scent. The finish is short, intense and bitter. Some metallic notes too. Interesting whisky, certainly a decent entry level bottling.

Verdict:

I like this.

Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

2026-08-07T20:01:00.000+01:00

Masthouse Single Estate Vintage 2018

Official bottling
Single pot still - Kent
Golden

45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, lemon zest, honey, white grapes, cinnamon, wet stones, clay dust.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, expands, tingly.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Magic marker, pear drops, green apples, lemon zest, wet stones, clay dust, hints of white pepper.
Finish: Short. White pepper, pear drops, lemon zest, hints of wet stones.

Comments:

Quite an unusual pot still whisky. That bristliness is still there by its overlaid with tart notes of green apples and lemon zest, and something earthy and flinty - clay dust and wet stones. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

2026-08-07T20:00:00.000+01:00

Bluegrass Distillers Blue Corn High Rye

Official bottling
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber red
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cough syrup, corn syrup, cola nuts, brown paper, oak chips, honey, hints of black pepper.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, astringent, thickens.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Black pepper, honey, corn syrup, cola nuts, leather, cherries, hints of sawdust.
Finish: Medium. Cola nuts, cherries, cough syrup, honey, vanilla.

Comments:

Quite sweet and luscious, as a whisky with a high corn content would be expected to do. Some light spiciness from the rye but it’s not as prominent as one would expect.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 69.3 (Glen Albyn 16yo 1978/1994)

2026-08-04T20:03:00.000+01:00

SMWS 69.3 (Glen Albyn 16yo 1978/1994)

1994, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Straw
64.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, malted grains, fresh cut grass, cream, elderflower, hints of roast chicken. With water, honey, white pepper, malted grains.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, tingly, expands.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, cream, elderflower, honey, grapefruit, hints of vanilla. With water, elderflower, malted grains, honey, lemon zest.
Finish: Long. Elderflower, honey, lemon zest, cream, hints of vanilla.

Comments:

Malty and citrusy, with a floral elderflower note (I find this to be quite unusual). There’s a slightly meatiness to it as well, especially prominent given the high strength. Water brings out more of that floral elderflower note.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

2026-08-04T20:02:00.000+01:00

Hakushu 1991/2005 Suntory Furudaru Shiage

Official bottling

Single malt - Chūbu
Amber red
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, black pepper, leather, rancio, camphor, caramel, honey.
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Black pepper, raisins, honey, cherries, leather, burnt sugar, sandalwood, hints of smoke.
Finish: Medium. Black pepper, cherries, honey, leather, hints of soot.

Comments:

Highly complex and sweet, loads of warming spices and dried fruit. A little thin on the mouthfeel but that just makes it easier to drink. Probably the youngest “old-style” sherried whisky that I’ve had.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

2026-08-04T20:01:00.000+01:00

Dallas Dhu 17yo 1970/1987

Sestante
Single malt - Speyside
Dark gold
58.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, honey, cinnamon, malted grains, white pepper, hints of green pepper, hints of camphor. With water, honeydew melons, fresh cut grass, lemon zest.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, hot, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Honeydew melons, white pepper, fresh cut grass, honey, lemon zest, hints of camphor. With water, magic marker, camphor, leather, honey, honeydew melons.
Finish: Medium. White pepper, malted grains, honey, cinnamon.

Comments:

Fruity and complex, lots of melon and honey notes. Water brings out some grassiness and citrus, and eventually some herbal bitterness. This is perfectly layered and constructed, an alluring, mouth watering whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Balvenie 29yo 1994+1996

2026-08-04T20:00:00.000+01:00

Balvenie “Blended Malt Whisky” 29yo 1994+1996

Decadent Drinks
Teaspooned malt - Speyside
Amber
53% ABV
Dram

Nose: Beeswax, cola nuts, honeycomb, malted grains, honey, foam shrimp, gooseberries. With water, honey, white pepper, sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Cola nuts, beeswax, honeycomb, gooseberries, nectarines, greengages, lemon zest. With water, nectarines, honey, beeswax.
Finish: Long. Honey, greengages, sandalwood, nectarines.

Comments:

Very waxy, plenty of peach. If you’d asked me to taste blind I’d have said this was Clynelish and not Balvenie. But that’s what it is, and there’s some notes of greengageS that hint a little bit at its origins.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Braeval 16yo 2010

2026-07-30T20:01:00.000+01:00

Braeval 16yo 2010

Little Brown Dog Spirits
Single malt - Speyside
Bright gold
57.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, peaches, honey, cloves, caramel, hints of carrot cake. With water, honey, peaches, malted grains.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, mouth coating, hot.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Lemon zest, orange peel, honey, peaches, malted grains, vanilla, hints of cinnamon. With water, honey, orange peel, cinnamon, hints of malted grains.
Finish: Short. Cloves, cinnamon, peaches, malted grains.

Comments:

Malty and sweet Braeval, with plenty of peach and nectarine notes. Quite a spicy whisky, and water brings out more orange and cinnamon.

Verdict:

I like this.

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

2026-07-30T20:00:00.000+01:00

Aultmore 15yo 2010/2026

Chorlton Whisky
Single malt - Speyside
Golden
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, white chocolate, foam shrimp, malted grains, white pepper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass. With water, lemon zest, nectarines, white pepper, fresh cut grass.

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon zest, nectarines, clementines, malted grains, honey, white pepper, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets. With water, malted grains, fresh cut grass, foam shrimp, clementines.
Finish: Short. Malted grains, photocopy paper, vitamin C tablets, fresh cut grass.

Comments:

Quite citrusy and peppery, with a thick heavy body that sits on the tongue. Water brings out some malty sweetness, some additional grassiness to cut the ought h citrus.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Auchentoshan 20yo

2026-07-24T20:02:00.000+01:00

Auchentoshan 20yo

Whisky Craft, Solasta Holdings
Single malt - Lowlands
Yellow gold
55.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Marmalade, lemon zest, lemon curd, cream, magic marker, green tea, malted grains, hints of brown paper. With water, fresh cut grass, lemon curd, malted grains, ume.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, astringent, slightly chalky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Green tea, lemon zest, marmalade, dried apricots, fresh cut grass, white pepper, hints of chalk. With water, fresh cut grass, green tea, ume, leather.
Finish: Medium. Lemon curd, marmalade, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, hints of dried apricots.

Comments:

Citrusy and bright, lots of grassy notes with pepper. Slightly chalky (both in body and on the tongue). Water burns out more grassy florals, with fermented ume.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Westland 9yo

2026-07-24T20:01:00.000+01:00

Westland 9yo

The Whisky Trail, Elixir Distillers
Single bourbon - Washington
Amber
56.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, roast pork, honey, magic marker, dried apricots, marmalade, hints of surgical spirit. With water, sandalwood, leather, dried apricots.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, astringent, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sour sweet. Lemon zest, marmalade, surgical spirit, leather, honey, cloves, sandalwood. With water, sandalwood, lemon zest, surgical spirit, marmalade.
Finish: Short. Sandalwood, lemon zest, cloves, cinnamon.

Comments:

Rather herbal and floral for bourbon. Plenty of jammy notes too (not raisins or blackcurrant). Quite unusual, in that it’s still spirity after 9 years. Water brings out some more citrus.

Verdict:

I like this.

Ardnamurchan 6yo 2019/2026

2026-07-24T20:00:00.000+01:00

Ardnamurchan 6yo 2019/2026

#24, The Heart Cut
Single malt - Western Highlands
Orange gold
52% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cedar, olive brine, smoke, peat, germolene, popcorn, honey, hints of dried apricots. With water, honey, dried apricots, magic marker.
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, cool, astringent.
Tasting: Sour salty. Cedar, popcorn, smoke, peat, germolene, lemon zest, grapefruit, hints of gentian. With water, honey, dried apricots, pears, germolene.
Finish: Medium. Grapefruit, gentian, popcorn, smoke.

Comments:

Quite a smoky whisky as Ardnamurchan goes. Lots of bitter citrus alongside all that smoke and peat. Water opens up a fruitiness that is quite intense, dried apricots are especially prominent.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.