Author | Lightnews

Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 1d

Great review. Interesting that the recent Dramface review also mentions olives (perhaps revealing Ramsay Tavish's true identity...) but this isn't a note I get, nor anything herbal. For me, it's a very worthy follow-up to DE3 - lots of effervescence & tropical fruits; a very similar flavour profile.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 3d

Looks and sounds awesome. I have an unopened bottle of the Chronicles Edition 1 waiting for a special occasion. Was lucky to try a sample on their tour a few years ago and it really blew me away. It seems they save their best casks for these bottlings.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 3d

DE3 was fantastic and sadly I finished my bottle earlier this year. I actually find the flavour profile of DE9 remarkably similar.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 4d

Phwoaar what a line up! I'm neck deep in Halloween festivities but currently plying my brother in law with DE9. He's definitely a fan but my wife keeps telling me to shut up about fermentation times & yeast varieties!

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 8d

Such a cracking, utterly insane whisky. There's still bottles left on their website by the looks of it

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 10d

Wow, what a fantastic way to celebrate the big 3-0!

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 10d

This beauty had sold out before I discovered Loch Lomond's Distillery Editions. Thanks to Alan (aka Whisky Friend) I've been able to try it & it doesn't disappoint. Nose is green olives, oysters and lemon juice. Balanced salinity & sweetness on the palette. Like an Inchfad without too much funk.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 10d

A Christmas gift from a client which I really wasn't expecting much from. Happy to have had my preconceptions proved wrong as this is a really competent dram albeit at 40%. The Glenlivet distillate shines through w/ icing sugar, pear, apple and honeyed porridge on both nose & palette.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 10d

I can see Brendan Rodgers has spent his spare time wisely during his managerial stint at Celtic! 🥃#CabinetEnvy

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 13d

Capping off a busy day with a great bourbon. Maybe it's true the Yanks keep the best bottlings for themselves as this 75cl Four Roses Select is sublime. Russet apples, rye spice & toffee on the nose; balanced astringency (i.e. English mustard), cinnamon, cherries & apple tarts tatin on the palette👌🏻

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 13d

The canary in the coal mine perhaps? Something tells me there could be plenty of "limited time only" 50-60% off deals in the lead up to Xmas...

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 14d

Happy Birthday old yin! 👴

Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 15d

It was a really cracking night. A sort of combined birthday/ Xmas present from my parents and brother and he treated me to a dram of Suntory 12 in the intermission. A lovely sweet and floral whisky but not sure i'd fork out £130+ for a bottle.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 16d

An incredible evening at the Royal Albert Hall watching the Sumo last night with brother Max. A profoundly unique and beautiful spectacle! Great catching up with old friends beforehand too 🍻 My head's a wee bit sore this morning...

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 21d

Agreed, definitely some tropical fruit in there too 😋 I think we can thank the 2-3 week fermentation time for all that fruitiness!

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 21d

Wow what a dram! Like previous batches the distillate rules supreme w/ the bourbon casks playing the perfect supporting role. Nose is citrus fruits, vanilla custard & a tad vegetal; the mouth feel's thick w/ orange fruit pastilles, Granny Smith apples & slightly drying. A H2H w/ other DEs is a must!

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 23d

Belated #BlindDrams: Dram 5's a great follow up to 4 as I'm getting a lot of similar notes on the nose. Marzipan, dark cherries & black olives in there too. The palette's sweet peat (missed that on the nose somehow), lemon cheesecake & a touch vegetal/ brine. Probably a Caol Ila & my favourite. 4/5

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 23d

Belated #BlindDrams: Dram 4 has the best nose so far - toffee, milk chocolate, soft oak spice, boozy raisins. Great oily texture on the palette with more oak balanced nicely with dense sponge cake & a little salted caramel. Another 4/5. 55%ish. A mix of ex-bourbon & sherry casks. Glen Scotia maybe?

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 23d

Belated #BlindDrams: Dram 3 offers rich, sherry seasoned European oak on the nose suggesting decent maturity. Some walnut & a little sulphur too. Thick, resinous mouth feel with cranberry, bitter chocolate & ginger jam. Lovely single malt, at least 16YO & >56%. 4/5. Glenrothes?

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 23d

Belated #BlindDrams: Dram 2. Now that's better! Cinnamon, cloudy apple juice, complex oak & freshly baked pastry on the nose. The palette's a bit disappointing - quite spicy, apple cider vinegar & minimal sweetness when neat. Water helps soften the bitterness. Royal Brackla perhaps? Deffo >57%. 2/5

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 23d

Belated #BlindDrams: Dram 1 has to be a single grain based on the nose alone - vanilla beans and a little lemon zest. The palette offers more vanilla, simple sweetness & minimal oak influence. A bit hot neat, better with a little water. I'm guessing young grain (<15yo) at >60%. 2/5.

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 24d

Thanks Brian, and I hope the missus recovers quickly too. I've managed to avoid any spoilers tonight so I'll be sampling the drams well and truly blind tomorrow! Hope you've had a good night 👍🏻

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 24d

Something strong & meaty required after an unexpected trip to A&E w/ the youngest tonight (False alarm, just a bad sprain!) Took a punt on this Mortlach after sampling the 12 OB @ Blair Athol. Punchy @61% & just a neck pour, it's spirit driven & lacks that savoury Mortlach complexity 🫤 Needs time...

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 26d

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Sam 'Slams Drams' Swindells @swinny34.bsky.social · 26d

Disaster strikes! 😂

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