THE WHISKY BAR · HANOI

Daily Review Archive

13 June 2026

Review calendar

4 Amber Room Reviews

Review 128

Alambic Classique Miltonduff 1987 2017 30 Years Old 55,6% Cask 17805

Miltonduff
87
Alambic Classique Miltonduff 1987 2017 30 Years Old 55,6% Cask 17805 — bottle label

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Alambic Classique
Age
30 years
ABV
55.6%
Vintage
1987
Bottled
2017
Cask type
Nicaragua rum barrel maturation (over five years)
Cask number
17805
Bottles in release
162

The Nicaragua rum cask choice was interesting but turned out to not be great for the alcohol as it dominates and make the dram either too sweet, bitter, spicy, or a combination of them all

Nose

The 5 year spent in a rum cask definitely shows with the sweet tropical fruity notes, creamy, herbal, vanilla, orchards, woody

Body

Definitely a very sweet dram, like cane sugar sweet, overripe tropical fruits, peppery, coconut, vanilla, slightly creamy With water there is still a lingering bitterness, the oiliness & spiciness becomes more prominent, definitely not a dram that gets better with water

Finish

Long finish, oaky & nutty, bitter

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Review 127

Signatory Vintage Glen Keith 1996 2023 26 Years Old 58% Cask 7

Glen Keith
88
Signatory Vintage Glen Keith 1996 2023 26 Years Old 58% Cask 7 — bottle label

Whisky facts

Region
Speyside
Independent Bottler
Signatory Vintage
Age
26 years
ABV
58%
Vintage
1996
Bottled
2023
Cask type
second-fill Oloroso sherry butt
Cask number
7
Bottles in release
635

An okay dram that suffers from having too much cask influence

Nose

Creamy, sweet, honey, ripe fresh fruits, apples, tropical, slightly vanilla, very pleasant nose despite the 58%

Body

Definitely an intense body that runs hot & spicy, still definitely sweet & fruity, cherries, alot of sherry influence, definitely needs water to tame it down With water the sweetness becomes more pronounced and dominate the spiciness/hotness, definitely a dram with strong cask influence, fruity (almost tart-like), much more enjoyable & pleasant with water

Finish

Long finish, the honey sweetness & peppery spiciness lingers

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Review 126

Yamazaki Islay Peated bottled 2024 48%

Yamazaki
90
Yamazaki Islay Peated 2024 Edition; bottling year not shown. | Client photo

Whisky facts

Bottling type
Official Bottling
ABV
48%

A peated Japanese Whisky is definitely an interesting combination that you don’t see often, wonder if the peated malt used here is similar to those used for Bowmore / Laphroaigs considering they are all owned by Suntory. Definitely a very enjoyable dram, bottled at a respectable & balanced 48%; a nice twist on Japanese whisky that harmoniously integrate the Islay peatiness

Nose

Light sweet fruits, mineral & sea smoke, hints of iodine, pepper; the fruitiness definitely makes the smoke more light & pleasant, excellent nose

Body

The sweetness dominate although the smokiness is still apparent, honey, slightly spicy & peppery, very tropical & fresh, slightly grassy, the smokiness & brine / salt comes out more prominently towards the end

Finish

Medium finish; slightly zesty and runs a bit hot

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Review 125

Lagavulin 12 43% bottled 1979

Lagavulin
89
Handwritten sample label: Lagavulin 12/43%, b.79; no factory bottle shown. | Client

Tasting sample photo

Whisky facts

Region
Islay
Bottling type
Official Bottling
ABV
43%

Definitely a good 12yo dram, despite being bottled at 43%, and definitely well represents whiskies from the 60/70s.

Nose

Subtle & light meaty smoke, earthy, herbal tea

Body

Delicate balance of smoky & sweet, the body is not too full but good enough considering the 43%, oily, chocolates, ashy, gets a tad sweet towards the end

Finish

Medium finish, the sweetness lingers, slightly bitter aftertaste

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