Decadent Drinks September 2025 Outturn Reviewed

Introduction Each month, I try to carve out a quiet evening to sit down with the latest batch of releases from Decadent Drinks. Their outturns are usually a balanced mix of curiosity and quality – sometimes unpredictable, often rewarding. The September 2025 release includes six whiskies and an aged Bas-Armagnac. Ranging from a blended malt to younger single casks and a more matured Glen Garioch, this lineup had enough contrast to keep things interesting over a couple of tasting sessions. Nose Starting with the 12-year-old blended malt, which combines sherried Benrinnes and refill Glen Elgin, I got gentle notes of dried apricots, tablet, and worn oak. Soft and a little restrained, but it opened up slowly in the glass. The Glencadam, at just six years old, was unexpectedly bright: green apples, fresh sawn grass, and faint vanilla. The Deanston offered more assertiveness – creamy porridge and lemon curd, with a hint of varnished oak. Moving on to the Old Pulteney 13, I noticed firm malt underpinnings with a sharper coastal touch. Salted cashews, damp rope, and under-ripe peach. The Bunnahabhain (13 years) had the most striking nose of the lot – full of earthy peat smoke, medicinal sweetness, and some dried herbs. Meanwhile, the Mannochmore had a fairly classic Speyside profile: orange peel, honeycomb, and light cereal malts. Lastly, the Bas-Armagnac from 1979 stood apart with plum jam, date syrup, and polished leather – rich and evocative before even tasting it. Palate The blended malt came across more textured than the nose suggested – spicy digestive biscuits, fig jam, and peppery heat. Slightly sharp on the back, but decent structure. Glencadam showed its youth: zesty, taut, with green fruit and a chalky dryness. Pleasant, if a bit lean. Deanston is usually a mixed bag for me, but this one worked – buttery, with lemon sponge cake and touches of honey wax. It didn’t overcomplicate things. The Old Pulteney leaned into its maritime character here: briny, slightly woody, and wrapped in citrus bitterness. Not overly sweet – which I liked. Bunnahabhain gave me the most engaging pour. Dense, meaty smoke combined with iodine drops, damp tobacco, and a firm saline core. Balanced and confident. Mannochmore was lighter but well-behaved – white chocolate, floral honey, and almond skins. Surprisingly consistent across nose and palate. The Armagnac was robust – prune syrup, winter spices, and slightly earthy tannins, with that leathery warmth that older brandies seem to develop. Finish The finishes followed suit: the blended malt tapered off on cocoa powder and faint spice, while the Glencadam was short and slightly acidic. Deanston had surprising cling – vanilla fudge and a little citrus peel lingering nicely. Old Pulteney gave a drying ending, with sea salt and white pepper trailing behind. Bunnahabhain stayed long on the tongue, coating it with ash, licorice root, and smoke-dried seaweed. A proper length. Mannochmore offered a clean finish: a bit of green tea and lingering toasted grain. The Bas-Armagnac ended deep and warming – lasting tannins, festive spices, and a preserved fruit sweetness that stayed on for minutes. Price and Value At around £65-95 each, most of these sit in the expected price range for cask strength indie bottlings, with the Armagnac coming in higher due to age. I found good value in the Deanston and the Old Pulteney for their balance and character. The Glencadam, while crisp and clean, felt slightly overpriced given its simplicity. The Bunnahabhain was probably the best value pour here – very expressive for the price. If you're priced out of older Islays, this could be a decent alternative. Background Decadent Drinks, the bottled arm of the whiskybarrel-savvy folks behind Whisky Sponge, releases monthly outturns including Scotch whiskies and the occasional left-field pick like vintage Armagnacs or grain whiskies. Many of the Scotch entries in this batch were bottled under the Equinox & Solstice or Equilibrium ranges. Maturation varied from refill bourbon barrels to first-fill ex-sherry casks and a refill hogshead for the Mannochmore. Distilleries represented here include Deanston, Bunnahabhain, Old Pulteney, Glen Elgin, Benrinnes, Mannochmore, and Glencadam – with the Bas-Armagnac coming from Balous in France. The range is non-chill filtered and bottled at cask strength without added colour, as is typical for Decadent Drinks’ ethos. Final Notes Would I buy any of these again? The Bunnahabhain is a firm yes – nuanced peated whisky from Islay, without being aggressive or overdone. The Deanston also impressed me with its creaminess and clarity. If I were recommending just one bottle from the release to a new whisky drinker, I’d likely point them toward the Old Pulteney – it’s polished but distinctive, and easy to understand. Are all of these must-haves? Probably not. The Glencadam, despite showing some charm, felt a bit undercooked at this age. How do these compare within their regions? The Highland entries (Deanston and Old Pulteney) both stood up well, but the Speyside examples didn’t leave as strong of a mark overall. Is the old Armagnac worth your time? If you enjoy dense, woody spirits with dried fruit richness and don’t mind something outside whisky, it’s definitely one I’d recommend trying at least once.