Now, I’m not saying that things are running a bit behind schedule here, but two of the bottlings below were supposed to be 12yo…

Not to worry though, as the rest of the year is shaping up nicely. New distilleries, old favourites, some sherry, a bit of peat … there should be something for everyone from Chorlton Whisky in 2025!

For now though, let me introduce you to three new Highland drams that, despite the delay, feel just right for the season.

First up we have a 16-year-old Balblair. I still dreamily reminisce about a hand-fill from the distillery I had maybe a decade ago that was easily the fruitiest whisky I’ve ever tried, and I’m delighted to be able to bottle a cask from there.

So, on the nose I find honey, dessert wine, blackcurrant branches, lime, rose petals, fruit leathers and cordials, and maybe a bit of rosemary. It’s quite idiosyncratic, and really enticing.

The texture on the palate is really quite something – somehow dense and light at the same time. A wine friend described it as “supple and bouncy” which I can’t improve upon. (Thanks Athila!) I get cherry and cranberry juices, Gewürztraminer, oranges and limes, Bakewell Tart, and blackberry, cinnamon and brown sugar pie going in to a long finish.

Adding water brings out green apple sweets, citrus and a bit of a limestoney mineralic edge.

There’s very little wood influence here, so it’s mostly the spirit doing the talking. And what a spirit it is! Fruity, floral, complex and changeable.

This hogshead produced 271 bottles at 55.8% and they’re available for £95 each.

Next is a 13-year-old Glen Garioch. I’m surprised I’ve made it this long before bottling something from this grand old distillery. There will be more!

So, on the nose: cider lollies, pear, mango skins, lemongrass, shoe polish and wax. There’s a distinct minerality too, plus a handful of malted barley and hints of yellow flowers and violets.

The palate is fresh and zingy with quite a full waxy texture. I get lemons and limes, peaches*, honey and lemon cough sweets, limestone and salted butter. The finish is nicely clean and mineralic.

* – other tasters have suggested apricot, nectarine, greengage and yellow plum. It’s like a Spot The Stone Fruit competition round here…

Glen Garioch can be quite variable, but in this mode you can feel its kinship with other Highland distilleries like Pulteney or Clynelish. If you like that sort of mineralic and fruity profile you can’t go wrong.

This first-fill barrel produced 248 bottles at 50.2%, and they are available for £69.50 each.

Last up we have a 13-year-old Tullibardine. A distillery on the up! This one has been treated to an unusual maturation in a refill barrique that previously held peated spirit.

On the nose then: banana, more banana, toffee pennies, clotted cream, brioche, and little touches of tar and smoke. There’s a chestnutty earthiness, some allspice, orange and a touch of mint.

The palate is big, fruity and a bit funky, with almost a rum-ish vibe of banana, tarry liquorice, and a pile of oranges. It develops on spiced coffee cake, custard, and some very old-school Tulli rye and juniper.

This is great fun – rich, chunky and engagingly weird around the edges. The smoke from the cask doesn’t jump out at you, but provides a nice bit of background complexity. Maybe not for those phobic of the banana though…

This barrique produced only 213 bottles at 52.2% and they are available for £72.50 each.

And…

…that’s it for now. I hope you found something in the above to tickle your fancy, and there’s also a small restock of last year’s Jura and peated Knockdhu up on the site now if you missed those last time around.

I’m always available through the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David