In case you don’t recognize these names immediately: all of these are (smaller) Belgian bottlers or clubs.
You may know Buds & Barrels as a whisky shop, but they also have their own range. Then there’s Double-V who bottled the 25th anniversary bottling of whisky club The Green Door. Last but not least: a bottling by Klubb23 for Crann Whisky Club.
Inchgower 6 yo 2015 (59,4%, Buds & Barrels ‘The Sticky Label’ 2021, PX quarter cask, 153 btl.)
Nose: modern cask seasoning, with caramelized notes, raisins and figs, but also fresh oak shavings and vanilla. Then there’s a more robust side, with walnuts and honeyed cereal bars. Maybe a hint of latte as well. Later also a subtle fragrant edge, bordering strawberries and cream.
Mouth: really punchy. Black pepper comes out right away, along with clove and cinnamon. Later also brown sugar and treacle toffee. Then it moves to cocoa, some earthiness and walnuts.
Finish: quite long, with more earthiness, raisins, cloves and peppery heat.
I believe this was the first bottling ever by Buds & Barrels. Not sure why this got hidden so long in my sample stash. The nose was the best part here, on the palate it doesn’t reach the same balance. Long gone, I’m afraid.
Glencadam 13 yo 2012 (64,1%, Double-V for The Green Door 2026, bourbon barrel #800301 120 btl.)
Nose: pleasant and quite fresh. Pear cake, rubbed lemons, green banana. A little biscuit dough. Underneath there’s a clear floral side, with fresh white flowers as well as some pungent ginger and chilli, getting a bit austere. Water helps a lot, making it more candied, on creamy peach, vanilla waffle and apple syrup.
Mouth: really lively, with more apples and nectarines, gradually moving towards graepfruits, lemon zest and some bitter herbs. Pepper and ginger again. Then some muesli and a grassy note. Water makes it rounder again, although the tangy green edge never goes away.
Finish: medium to long, half fruity, half spicy, slightly less exciting.
I’m no dogmatic cask strength preacher, in fact I think it’s part of the bottler’s expertise to work on this and not simply bottle ‘as is’. Nice aromas and a good fruity core here, but keep the jug ready. Water improves this whisky on all levels. Still available from The Whiskybarn for instance. Score: 87/100
Croftengea 14 yo 2007 (53,8%, Buds & Barrels ‘The Sticky Label’ 2021, hogshead, 146 btl.)
Nose: really farmy, with sweet grass, some animal notes, even showing a cheesy side for a short moment. This combines with bananas and vanilla ice cream. Herbal notes, a little miso? It’s not a common profile, but it’s not as dirty as some other Croftengeas either.
Mouth: even less middle-of-the-road. There’s some sweet pineapple and creamy vanilla, mixed deeper bonfire smoke than the nose suggested. Baked apple and salted caramel. Subtle brine and lemon.
Finish: long, on smoke, grass and herbs.
Nice selection, a malt with a pretty unique character. I didn’t expect the fruits, but also the farmy funk is a nice touch. Still available from Buds & Barrels. Score: 87/100
Laphroaig 13 yo 2011 (54%, Klubb23 for Crann Whisky Club 2025, Oloroso octave finish, 66 btl.)
Nose: smoked bacon on Sunday morning. Cecina as well! Then hints of burnt salty popcorn and figs on a barbecue. Some exhaust smoke, cinnamon, toasted walnuts and a hint of chocolate coated hazelnuts. Just a wee hint of red fruit jam in the distance.
Mouth: rather heavy peat, including some iodine and antiseptics, but also cinnamon, chocolate, a little coffee and brown sugar. Dried berries. Then salted toffee, quite a lot of charred oak and black peppery notes.
Finish: long, on warming peat, charcoal and bright red fruits.
A successful octave: the peat and sherry tango well together. Especially the nose is excellent. Score: 88/100