It's a whisky tasting Christmas special! Bradley (Whisky Magazine's soon-to-be editor) has tried three of this year's festive releases from distilleries around the world.
All whiskies have been blind tasted, with style, region, and ABV the only information disclosed.
Paul John — Christmas Edition 2024
Sazarac
ABV: 46%
Style: Single malt
Country/region: India
Availability: UK, EU
Tasting notes by Bradley Weir:
Nose: Sweet Honeycrisp apples, very citrus forward. Lime juice, a squeeze of lemon. Honeycomb. A gentle smokiness as time goes by.
Palate: Surprisingly none of the fruitiness from the nose. Very nutty, in fact. Cashew nuts, chestnuts. Woody. Slight hints of toffee and caramel to balance.
Finish: Medium in length, very cool.
Comments: A solid whisky that has a good deal of complexity between the nose and palate.
Score: 8.0
Filey Bay — Sherry Cask Reserve #5
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery
ABV: 46%
Style: Single malt
Country/region: England
Availability: UK
Tasting notes by Bradley Weir:
Nose: Very sour cherries, sherbet lemon sweets. Nosing a fruit bowl. Starburst. Very fruity, and delightfully so.
Palate: Instantly, this is very smooth and sippable. Those cherry and lemon notes from the nose continue here. Slightly malty. Golden syrup. Warm flapjack.
Finish: An extremely short finish, which is a surprise.
Comments: This is a fruity delight, especially with those cherry notes. The palate is very warming. A fantastic dram.
Score: 8.6
Scotch Malt Whisky Society — A Coal Scuttle of Jam and Treacle, 7 Years Old
Scotch Malt Whisky Society (from A Dram Good Christmas tasting pack)
ABV: 61.7% ABV
Style: Single malt
Country/region: Scotland, Highlands
Availability: UK
Tasting notes by Bradley Weir
Nose: A new leather wallet. Very earthy. Mushrooms. Soil. Barbecued pulled pork. Slight roast beef aromas.
Palate: Very peaty. Oyster mushrooms. Earthy. The meatiness of the nose continues here. Like a Christmas roast beef dinner. A spiciness begins to develop.
Finish: Medium to long in length, with a lingering ginger spice.
Comments: Packs a punch, which is expected given the ABV. The ginger notes that develop toward the end are a real positive. Newcomers to whisky will need water.
Score: 7.8
For more whisky tasting notes, visit our tastings pages.
