Here’s the August outturn from Decadent Drinks. It’s an interesting set of single malts, with a beautiful sherry combo, a very old Ardmore, an Old Orkney relic and a hyped Daftmill. In fact, the oldest Daftmill ever bottled and the only independent release to date.
Normally all these whiskies should have been released yesterday morning, but some technical difficulties meant they were delayed.
The first one is particularly interesting. At some point Gordon & Macphail had a proprietary blend with a high proportion of Orkney malt, matured in sherry butts. This is the last cask left of this blend.
Old Orkney Relics 30 yo 1996 (41,7%, Decadent Drinks 2026, refill sherry butt, 492 btl.)
Nose: smile on my face. Hints of dusty paper, grease, old jackets and light beeswax, along with heather honey and hints of Calvados sweetness. Then mild flinty notes, along with a deeply faded hint of smoke. Underneath there is a ripe hint of stewed fruits, maybe a hint of papaya. A fairly rounded profile with a nice old-style touch.
Mouth: nice mineral notes, some wood oil, slightly sweetened herbal tea and mild sherry spice. Stewed pears, hints of melons and peach but all melted together with waxes and subtle earthy / leafy notes. Also a little paraffin, almond and dried grassy notes. Note that it’s a little soft-voiced
Finish: medium, with old herbs, minerals and vague fruity sweetness.
A splendid homage for the G&M blend. A 30 year old for just £ 120 and this kind of profile? Quite a bargain, is it too early for stocking up on Christmas presents? Available from Decadent Drinks and retailers like The Whisky Exchange.
Dufftown 34 yo 1991 (51,1%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2026, refill barrel, 159 btl.)
Nose: nice chalky notes, underpinned by rich mirabelles, gooseberries and quinces. Honeyed notes, light whiffs of white wine and dried wildflowers. Even a hint of watermelon candy, very nice. Then it moves back to apple (cider) with green almonds and waxy peaches.
Mouth: nice and fruity again. Not just the expected orchard fruits but also pineapple, guava and peach nectar. That peculiar hint of watermelon candy is still present. Then hints of sandalwood, mint leaves and soft mineral notes. Subtle vanilla. Mild hints of white pepper and icing sugar as well.
Finish: medium to long, mostly on yellow fruits, vanilla and a touch of pepper.
You hardly ever see this distillery as an independent bottling, so kudos for finding such an excellent example. It combines the trademark Decadent Drinks refill wood profile with waxiness and more candied sweetness than expected. A very friendly Duffzilla. Available from Decadent Drinks or partners like The Whisky Exchange. Score: 91/100
Tamdhu 19 yo 2007 (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2026, refill sherry hogshead, 246 btl.)
Nose: close to the officials. Prunes and raisins, a creamy toffee note, buttery caramel and some coffee candy. Mostly dark fruits here. Then mildly sour elements, like red berries and tobacco juice. Later it settles on hints of Oloroso mustiness and soft rancio notes.
Mouth: same profile. Probably a high toast European oak cask, but mellowed after the first filling. Milk chocolate and more toffee, along with dates and hints of buttery cinnamon buns. Also hints of brown bread, cola sweets and very gentle oak spice.
Finish: medium length. Just more proper sherry with subtle coffee, prunes and chocolate cake.
A rather classic profile if you’re familiar with the official releases, which is not a bad thing. Slightly restrained, so overall a safe choice. Available from Decadent Drinks or partners like The Whisky Exchange. Score: 87/100
Dailuaine 19 yo 2007 (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2026, refill hogshead + sherry hogshead, 175 btl.)
Nose: sweeter and spicier – I’m getting a clear vermouth hint upon first nosing. Sultanas but also raspberry candy and a mix of pomegrenate and cherry juice. Then some rosemary and herbal / varnished notes. Certainly more intense and unique than the Tamdhu.
Mouth: more modern than the Tamdhu. Vibrant red fruits, with a candied edge and a little more wood involved. Plum jam and dark cherries, hints of apple compote, along with a hint of herbal liqueur. Mint leaves, forest honey, sweet hazelnut and light cocoa. Spanish turrón too. Then a little pepper and mild clove in the end.
Finish: fairly long, with sweet herbal notes, dark fruits and black pepper.
This is more punchy, more jam-packed than the Tamdhu. Therefore a little more exciting. Particularly impressive on the nose. Available from Decadent Drinks or partners like The Whisky Exchange. Score: 88/100
Daftmill 20 yo 2006 ‘Find Francis’ (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Whiskyland’ 2026, first-fill sherry butt + first-fill bourbon barrel, 368 btl.)
Nose: strong wafts of Brandy de Jerez – boozy sherry, if you like. Plenty of varnished exotic woods, with hints of cigar boxes. Tobacco leaves. Light eucalyptus oil and earthy spice underneath. Some umami elements as well. At the top you get some raspberry and other berries, as well as a light leathery hint. Very cask-forward, covering up the typical fruitiness of the spirit.
Mouth: rich and still showing a combination of sweeter notes and savouriness. Some modern wood spice too. Bramble and cherry notes, along with hazelnuts and nougat. More tobacco. Very light salty touches. Then hints of black pepper and candied ginger, as well as liquorice. Then a little honey sweetness comes out, along with drops of black tea.
Finish: medium to long, with herbal elements, plummy notes, some oiliness and dark chocolate.
Complex and full of flavour. A very rich style that combines both first-fill profiles, perhaps a tad overdone. It feels slightly spin-doctored and hides some of the qualities we like most in Daftmill, but it’s certainly very good. Available from Decadent Drinks. Score: 89/100