Dramfool Lochindaal 15yo (Tokaji) Cask #4283 & Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Port Charlotte 16yo

Dramfool Lochindaal 15yo (Tokaji) Cask #4283

Region: Islay

ABV: 53.7%

Price: £195.00

Distilled at Bruichladdich in 2010, this heavily peated Islay single malt was finished in a first fill Tokaji barrique. Bottled by Dramfool in 2026 at 15 years old, with an outturn of 205 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with apricot yoghurt, caramel, candied ginger, and something a little metallic, coppery. The smoke feels soft, more of a background characteristic than in your face. There's still a lactic, acidic note to the nose, lemons, peach, and a little warehouse must. Air brings more of a TCP, antiseptic note, used plasters, and a bit of honey coming through too. There's a top note of almond and vanilla fondant as well.  

Palate

The palate opens with a mixture of sweet vanilla, toffee, and apricot jam, maybe some orange segments too, mixed with a medicinal, antiseptic smoke, and finishing off with some fresh greek yoghurt. There's also a lovely acidity balancing this, lots of freshly made lemonade coming through. The texture is nice and oily, a little syrupy too. The finish lingers for a decent length, lots of fruity sweetness and a bit of antiseptic too. The alcohol is also well balanced, present but not overly hot.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose feels fruitier, slightly more confected too. Lots of peach, orange and apple, with a bit of a sharper smoke, the metallic note is slightly more pronounced. There's also a little more wood sweetness coming through, a fair bit more caramel and honey.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate has a slightly more pronounced metallic edge, but continues through with more lactic, yoghurty notes, softened medicinal peat smoke and lots and lots of apricot jam as the palate develops. It's a little fizzy and more confected in nature, similar to the reduced nose.

Conclusion

If Bruichladdich and Laphroaig had a baby - it's got a real medicinal smoke mixed with the lactic character of Bruichladdich, enhanced with some sweeter apricot and citric notes from the Tokaji - and it works really quite well. We're fans of Lochindaal in sweet wines, and this is no exception. We're just shy of 8.5/10 here, but it's a great dram.

Score: 8/10

Value

It’s a steep price, but then Lochindaal is a rarity. 

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Port Charlotte 16yo

Region: Islay

ABV: 58.1%

Price: £185.00

Distilled on the 17th November 2008 and bottled after 16 years of maturation, this Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Port Charlotte was matured in a first fill bourbon barrel. Outturn of 202 bottles.

Nose

The nose opens with a gentle smoke, slightly metallic, citric, lemon peel, soft peach, mixed with iodine, bonfire embers, digestive biscuits and crushed almonds. It feels really well integrated and balanced - the sweetness, maltiness, smoke and citrus all meling together beautifully. There's some of that classic Port Charlotte lactic-ness coming through, fresh yoghurt, sour lemon and vanilla fondant. The alcohol is also very subdued, and time and air brings sweeter fudge and light caramel to the forefront.  

Palate

The palate opens with a similar citrus upfront, lemon balm, yoghurt covered granola bars, a sharp, acidic peat smoke that's more pronounced than the nose, but still well integrated and not overpowering - more of a background note. There's also some peach and green apple, roasted walnuts, and a sweet fudgey finish with some lingering ginger warmth. The texture is good, it's oily and full bodied, and we're finding more of a vegetal, burning leaves smoke appearing as we go back to it. 

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose softens some of the acidic notes, and becomes nuttier, oakier, with a little more malt and a touch more smoke too. Getting deeper in, there's a lot more fruit appearing now, and actually it feels more expressive. It doesn't need the water, it's very drinkable neat, however a drop or two does open up another side of the dram. 

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate is sweeter, lots more vanilla and fudge, and now the lemons are candied instead. There's still a lovely vegetal peat here, but it's got much more sugar coming through. More fruit appears too, in a similar way to the reduced nose.

Conclusion

A well aged, integrated, and balanced Port Charlotte. It's classical in style, there's a good amount of the lactic distillery character, but none of the aromas or flavours overpower each other. Very tasty whisky.

Score: 8/10

Value

As with today’s other review, Port Charlotte of this age carries a premium price tag.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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