Here we are with the entire September outturn from Decadent Drinks. It’s a mid-range release, so to speak, with five Decadent Drams that don’t cost a fortune. We start with the oldest whisky: Deanston 1997.
Deanston 27 yo 1997 (50%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2025, refill hogshead, 251 btl.)
Nose: fresh and citrusy. Lemon juice, hints of apple peelings and yellow plums, but also whiffs of verbena, myrtle oil and crushed mint leaves. A little bread dough, grass, plain barley and maybe a drop of orange blossom water. Then the lightest mineral notes as well.
Mouth: very much the same notes. Juicy emons up front, with subtle waxy notes, grassy touches and white pepper. Back and forth between butter biscuits and more zesty sharpness. Then sweet mint and a little chalk again, along with a light floral edge.
Finish: medium long. A little honey appears, amidst the citrus, chalk and very mild spice.
A lovely combination of fresh citrus and chalk, with rounder waxy notes and a hint of honey. An effortless profile, but a high class distillate. Of course we’re close to the Whiskyland price range here. Still available from Decadent Drinks.
Blended Scotch 12 yo (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2025, refill sherry hogshead, 295 btl.)
Nose: very nice ‘proper’ sherry aromas. That means figs, toffee, cigar boxes and leafy notes. Milk chocolate, hints of book dust and a brighter hint of charred rosemary. Also the gentle charcoal notes in the background work very well.
Mouth: more sherry goodness, revolving around tobacco, mild herbal notes, toffee sweetness and cocoa powder. Some black pepercorns and charred orange peels, along with dried fruits and drops of fig syrup. Towards the end in turns to mild grainy notes and a bit of gingery heat.
Finish: medium to long, with a drying leafy side now and some Darjeeling.
At the core of this blend is a very low-strength North of Scotland grain whisky from 73, skilfully married with a selection of unpeated and peated malts. Quite excellent, with very little grain influence and a nice sherry profile. A fun daily drinker, nice to see this is below £ 100 too. Available from Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile Whiskies for instance. Score: 89/100
Glencadam 13 yo 2012 (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2025, refill barrel, 283 btl.)
Nose: a candied and estery style of fruits. Apple and peach candy, light pineapple and pear frangipane, as well as some elderflower cordial. A little honey and cake too.
Mouth: bright fruitiness again, with a bit more green orchard fruits now. Greengages, apples and pears , perhaps a few foam bananas as well. A nice creamy texture with subtle waxy notes. Barley sugars. Then light grassy notes and a little aniseed underneath.
Finish: rather long, with more green fruits, mild oak spice, a little vanilla and a few malty / nutty notes.
A crowd pleaser, I guess. You can’t be against this clean and juicy, slightly candied fruity style. Complexity isn’t the highest, but that shoudn’t bother you. Available from Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile, among others. Score: 87/100
Old Pulteney 11 yo 2013 (53%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2025, first-fill bourbon barrel, 227 btl.)
Nose: some sea shells and rocks, maybe a little damp charcoal and hay. Also a mix of lemons and bananas, which is flattening the coastal side a little. Hints of clover and a touch of honey. Then also a rather dusty, slightly funky chalkiness in the background.
Mouth: still a bigger sweetness than expected. It’s a vague fruitiness with some pears and melons but more of an almond / peanut / cashew kind of sweetness. Light umami even. Back to chalky notes again, along with a papery element and gentle vanilla.
Finish: medium, with a bit more wood spice, more peanuts and a light coastal note.
Not my favourite whisky in this session. I’m not sure it’s because I expected more coastal notes and less sweetness, or perhaps because the slightly savoury note got in the way. Available from Decadent Drinks or Royal Mile Whiskies. Score: 86/100
Bunnahabhain 12 yo 2013 (57,1%, Decadent Drinks ‘Decadent Drams’ 2025, refill hogshead + sherry finish, 317 btl.)
Nose: a nutty and mildly fruity cocktail, with a certain dustiness to it. Old leather and books. Dried apricots and raisins. Then subtle hints of paprika, browned butter and black peppercorns. Increasing caramelized notes too, along with some roasted peanuts and walnuts.
Mouth: raisins and dried oranges, maybe one cherry, along with more walnuts and a little oak char. Oatcakes, fudge notes, a little cocoa and hints of tobacco. Subtle coastal elements in the distance, while the fresh cask added a few oak shavings as well.
Finish: quite long, with hints of salted caramel and nutty notes.
Nice Bunnahabhain, with a certain rugged edge but also caramelized sherry notes and oak spice that make this an all-round profile. Available from Decadent Drinks or Master of Malt. Score: 88/100