A few entirely random New Cats


September 10, 2026

A few entirely random New Cats

The New Cats, in our rather rudimentary parlance, are the young distilleries, the ones that quite often haven't yet made it into dedicated sessions on WF. I mean, sessions in which we taste nothing but whiskies from this or that particular distillery. Right then, let's pick a few entirely at random…

Inchdairnie RyeLow 2017/2022 (46.3%, OB, single grain, new oak cask, char 3)

It obviously cannot be single malt since a very large proportion of it is rye. Colour: full gold. Nose: this is rounder and softer, with bananas, mangoes and vanilla, than other RyeLows, and consequently a little less on rye bread, lavender or violets. Having said that, the rye just keeps growing, together with some fairly pronounced oakiness, although that remains under control. Mouth: this is rather North American, naturally, but there's a lovely lively, energetic, even invigorating side to it. Liquorice and orange liqueur, plus cinnamon. A very light touch of eucalyptus. Finish: long, with some rather lively, even lemony oak. Very pronounced pepper liqueur and touches of eucalyptus. Comments: indeed, this isn't very Scottish, but I for one really like this concoction, rich and fresh at the same time. America as seen from Bonnie Scotland.
SGP:650 - 85 points.

I’d love to talk more about these distilleries, their history and story, their surroundings, the people and so on, but sadly, I simply don’t have the time. And capacity. Right, off to the Lowlands…

Kingsbarns 7 yo ‘Loch Leven’ (57.5%, OB, Germany exclusive, 1st fill bourbon, 1,680 bottles, 2024)

Kingsbarns 7 yo ‘Loch Leven’ (57.5%, OB, Germany exclusive, 1st fill bourbon, 1,680 bottles, 2024)
Colour: pale white wine. Nose: apple juice and pear juice, plus a little vanilla. It’s simple, it’s fresh, it’s unassailable. With water: barley syrup. Mouth (neat): more lively than on the nose, but still very much on little green apples and pears, then sour cherries. We do like sour cherries, let that be said. With water: muesli, apples, lemons, pears, gooseberries. Finish: much the same. A very faint salty side, as so often in the aftertaste. Comments: lovely freshness that we would call elementary, with something of an eau-de-vie character.
SGP:451 - 81 points.

Daftmill 20 yo 2006/2026 ‘Find Francis’ (53%, Decadent Drinks)

So, who hadn’t heard that DD had got hold of this first and only independent Daftmill, and that it even brought their website crashing down (hosted on a 1982 Sinclair ZX81, mind you)? I should add that you’ll find me on the label if you use the little magnifying glass attached to the bottle, rather like what Adelphi did with a Clynelish for Whiskyfun four or six years ago. Right, shall we taste this Daftmill? That is, after all, mainly why we’re here… Colour: red amber. Nose: forget it. I’ve rarely found so many ripe apricots and papayas in the nose of a malt whisky. There’s also something of a very old petite champagne cognac about it, at least sixty years of age. With water: are we quite sure this isn’t an old cognac? May we see the papers? Mouth (neat): astonishingly compact, with pink peppercorns and sandalwood, all coated in agave syrup and vineyard-peach syrup. With water: it’s gone global. You blend some Willett from a great cask, some old cognac of lofty provenance (VT, JLP), some Martinique rum à la Neisson, add a little old Bushmills, add some old sherry, give it a good shake, and you end up with this single malt from the Kingdom of Fife. Pure witchcraft. Finish: yes, sadly. Comments: I must admit I did wonder whether I might still prefer the greatest of Daftmill’s more ‘clear line’ versions. Then I thought there was still more fun to be had with this sherried ‘Find Francis’ version.
SGP:651 - 91 points.

Lindores Abbey 6 yo 2019/2026 (59.5%, Lady of the Glen, bourbon barrel, 116 bottles)

Now this is interesting, this ought to be a Lindores with plenty of oomph… Colour: chardonnay. Nose: freshly baked orange cake straight out of the oven, cornflakes, lemon marmalade, lemon balm water, freshly milled malted barley… In short, everything’s going swimmingly, it’s fresh and cheerful. With water: bread dough, fresh baguette, lemon biscuits. Mouth (neat): a family-sized bag of marshmallows, another of liquorice allsorts, a third of jelly babies, Jesuses or beans, then a touch of angelica and a hint of green pepper. In short, it’s very young, but it’s certainly not going full tilt on pears. With water: a classic return to apples, honey and barley. Finish: rather long, on all those fruity sweets. Comments: wasn’t this the distillery founded by Friar John Corr in 1494? Hmm, I’m getting everything a little mixed up here, that was my Trumpian moment. Seriously, this is very good indeed, very cheerful and fruity. Above all, it remains close to the barley.
SGP:641 - 86 points.

This Lindores did very well indeed after the Daftmill. So, we may as well carry on for a little while…

Dalmunach 10 yo 2016/2026 (56.3%, Maltbarn, bourbon cask, 98 bottles)

You know the story, Chivas’s distillery that replaced Imperial and so on, rather a story that’s slightly sad really. Colour: white wine. Nose: cider, apple juice, greengages, vanilla, barley syrup. This isn’t going to solve the world’s problems (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, any resemblance etc…) but it’s still rather lovely. Lovely tobacco and aubergine. With water: it retreats towards chalk and grist. Touches of pear. Mouth (neat): very lovely barley eau-de-vie mixed with young Calvados. Or applejack. With water: the pear takes control, Domfrontais-style. Finish: much the same. Comments: it seems even younger than ten years old, but it’s a lovely drop, simple and effective. Still, indeed, it isn’t going to solve the world’s problems…
SGP:551 - 82 points.

I think we’ll have one last one, there’ll be plenty more New Cats over the coming weeks. We have to admit that the Daftmill rather killed the game, and that’s our fault, we should have seen it coming.

Dalmunach 10 yo 2016/2026 (63.6%, Lady of the Glen, 1st fill oloroso finish, 226 bottles)

Colour: deep gold. Nose: now this is expressive! Chickpeas and toasted sesame oil (hummus), a freshly opened pack of cigarettes, charcoal, praline, toasted pistachios… With water: very lightly smoky caramel and fudge. In short, it doesn’t really budge. Mouth (neat): walnut and lemon cake, liberally doused with rum and crème caramel. Or something along those lines, including a caffè latte (just a reminder, = 1 coffee + £5). It even works at 63.6% vol. With water: very good, if you like walnuts and citrus fruits as much as I do. Orange brittle. Finish: long, candied, caramelised, with all manner of toasted nuts and seeds suddenly charging in once more. More pepper in the aftertaste, as so often. Comments: it does feel a little ‘engineered’ but engineered with great skill.
SGP:561 - 85 points.

See you. If there’s any Daftmill next time, we’ll put it at the end, promise.