Early this month The Whisky Exchange presented a new set of exclusive bottlings. They are all official releases from distilleries Scotland, Ireland and Japan, selected specifically for them. The Scottish option is Meikle Tòir – peated GlenAllachie from a single Chinquapin oak cask. Then from Ireland they got a 5 year old Dingle matured in a Palo Cortado cask.
We start with a peated single cask release of Konosuke. This whisky made in Japan’s southern-most tip has been on my watchlist ever since I tried an early standard release back in 2023. It is a rare peated expression from this distillery.
Kanosuke 7 yo 2018 (57%, OB ‘Brush Stroke’ for The Whisky Exchange 2025, first-fill bourbon cask #19044, 156 btl.)
Nose: a custardy sweetness, with peanut butter, bread crust and a light sooty edge. Quite some fruity accents as well, think melons, pears, bananas and papaya. Then a fresh layer of singed lemon peels, fennel seeds and juniper, along with freshly sawn sandalwood. Crushed limestone and coastal smoke. A bit of this oriental and slightly perfumed je-ne-sais-quoi too.
Mouth: an oriental take on bourbon matured Springbank, in a way – the oiliness, the greasy kind of fruitiness, subtle silver polish and peat, hints of dusty workshops and even a coastal touch. More banana and pineapple, with orange sweets. Then a little pepper, mint, flamed lemon peels and gin botanicals. Mild mustardy notes and ginger. Raw barley as well, all bound together by the mild sooty undertones.
Finish: quite long, with smoke, liquorice, spiced lemon and a little tobacco.
Peated to about 50 ppm, this remains clearly in the same ballpark as the regular Kanosuke Single Malt but more powerful and complex. Flashes of Shizuoka with Campbeltown influences. Really, really good. Not exactly cheap but definitely worth saving up for.
Dingle 5 yo 2020 (59,6%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2026, Palo Cortado cask, 330 btl.)
Nose: some classic notes like sugared almonds with toffee and some little raisins, but also a good deal of vanilla, butter milk and even gentle coconut that don’t really fit the profile of a Palo Cortado. Also a subtle sourness of orange peels and raspberry candy. Subtle earthy spice in the background.
Mouth: still a bit synthetic somehow, combining brown sugar, strawberry and cream candy, caramel and forest fruit jam. Drops of cognac fruitiness (peach), vanilla and subtle tobacco leaves. Then minty notes, crushed black peppercorns and a very light savoury edge towards the end.
Finish: medium length, on warming spice, coated walnuts and slightly burnt sugar.
I must admit I don’t always agree with the cask selection at Dingle. This cask has its nice moments but also feels a little synthetic and disjointed at times. You were already saving up for the Kanosuke anyway, right? Exclusively available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 82/100
Meikle Tòir 7 yo 2018 (60,8%, OB for The Whisky Exchange 2026, Chinquapin barrel #5748, 281 btl.)
Nose: warm campfire smoke, with firm wood spice (ginger, white pepper), some medicinal iodine and fresh tar. A light sweetness of apples and biscuits underneath. Then some refreshing peppermint and lemony notes.
Mouth: very punchy, with a slightly oily texture. There’s strong peat smoke, black pepper and a nice medicinal side of antiseptics. Just enough toffee, pear and warm biscuity notes to keep it rounded. Hints of milk chocolate, liquorice, barley husks and cigar smoke as well.
Finish: quite long and warming, with hints of burnt toast, charcoal, flashes of orchard fruit and oak spice.
The Chinquapin One wasn’t my favourite in the original core range, but this single cask is substantially better. Rich peat, in the style of Laphroaig but with a sweeter ‘mainland’ character to it. Good value for money. Only available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 87/100