Springbank 12 yo 100 proof 57% ~ early 90s vs Springbank 10 yo Sutti Import 59% ~ a rather dark vatting
Springbank 12 yo 100 proof 57% ~ early 90s Unmistakable quality at full volume, and the wall of scent is classic Springbank. Thick herbal liqueur, some pine or fir based … Continue reading
Glen Mhor 26 yo 1965 Prestonfield #202 56% vs Glen Mhor 1978 / 1989 Gordon & Macphail Cask 65.3%
Glen Mhor 26 yo 1965 Prestonfield #202 56% The old style sherry here is a fitting velvet glove for the adamantine fist of the Glen Mhor. First you luxuriate in … Continue reading
North Port 15 yo 1974 / 1989 Sestante ‘Very Rare’ 66.1% vs North Port 14 yo 1974 / 1988 Intertrade 66.2%
North Port, or Brechin, distillery was one of those hit by the whisky downturn of the 80s and closed for good in 1983. Not particularly missed or lamented, one still … Continue reading
Glen Grant 18 yo 1977 / 1995 Wilson & Morgan 46% vs Glen Grant 32 yo 1972 / 2004 Milroy 51%
Glen Grant 18 yo 1977 / 1995 Wilson & Morgan 46% Honestly a lovely sherry maturation, replete with cherry compote, fig jam, molasses and soy. Brittle old wood, cinnamon and … Continue reading
Pierde Almas Tobaziche Mezcal 48% vs Pescador De Suenos Tobala PSTB-2A 2016 San Juan Del Rio 50.13% NOM-0258X
Pierde Almas Tobaziche Mezcal 48% A luminous and crystalline mezcal short on smoke and the dirty facets one finds in other makes. Instead it bring a full agave flavour, clean … Continue reading
A Kilbride Distillery 28 yo 1989 / 2017 HNWS Taiwan 51.1% vs Laphroaig 25 yo 1986 / 2011 AD Rattray #2123 60.6%
A Kilbride Distillery 28 yo 1989 / 2017 HNWS Taiwan 51.1% It doesn’t actually say Laphroaig but the word Kilbride is a dead giveaway – that and the whisky itself. … Continue reading
Dalwhinnie 1970 / 1991 Connoisseurs Choice ‘Map label’ Gordon & Macphail 40% vs Dalwhinnie 1963 Connoisseurs Choice ‘Brown label’ Gordon & Macphail 40% ~ mid 80s bottling
Dalwhinnie 1970 / 1991 Connoisseurs Choice ‘Map label’ Gordon & Macphail 40% I’ve always been intrigued by Dalwhinnie. While it falls into the light but stark, slightly floral highlands style, … Continue reading
Mannochmore 14 yo 1992 / 2006 Cadenhead Authentic Collection 54.6% vs Mannochmore 25 yo 1990 / 2016 Special Release 53.4%
A modern distillery founded in 1971, its six stills only went quiet between 1985 and 1989. Given that this distillery is (unfairly?) blamed for being the source of Loch Dhu, … Continue reading
Been off travelling, some good drinks too. 50s and 60s Bowmore, 60s Laphroaig, 60s Ardbeg, 60s Highland Park, 1972 Brora
Visiting some friends, and drinking some great old bottles. A pictorial record: Bowmore 1957 / 1990 Moon Import 40% Such elegance and nervous poise. I think of another … Continue reading
Bruichladdich 25 yo 1991 #2490 & 2491 Dun Bheagan Ian Macleod 48.1% vs Bruichladdich 24 yo 1992 Black Art 5.1 48.4%
… or ‘One wonders why the wine’, or alternatively ‘What wonders the wine wrought’, depending on which camp you fall into, red or blue, left or right, Rebels or Empire. … Continue reading
Cardow (Cardhu) 28 yo 1962 James MacArthur 55.7% vs Craigellachie 46 yo 1970 #1607 Gordon & Macphail for LMdW 60th Anniversary 54.2%
Cardow (Cardhu) 28 yo 1962 James MacArthur 55.7% It is very unusual to find a 60s vintage Cardhu. There’s really only the Cadenhead black dumpy, and then this strange one, … Continue reading
Longmorn 1967 Old Master’s James MacArthur 57.1% vs Longmorn 30 yo 1969 / 1999 #4249 Adelphi 56.7%
Longmorn 1967 Old Master’s James MacArthur 57.1% Note that the mini does not give the bottling year nor the cask number, but the equivalent full bottle states 2002 and cask … Continue reading
Caol Ila 19 yo 1995 Signatory #457 + 458 vs Caol Ila 1990 Mackillop’s Choice #1484
Caol Ila 19 yo 1995 Signatory #457 + 458 46% The fresh sort of peaty Islay, more buttered burnt toast than unholy infernos. A light toned but rooty ‘clean earth’ … Continue reading
Hampden 7 yo 2010 Velier 62% vs Long Pond 15 yo 2003 1200/1300 ‘Continental Flavoured’ TECA 63%
Oberservation: Some of these high quality young rums completely outclass whisky of the same age. Counterpoint: Apples and Oranges though. Hampden 7 yo 2010 Velier 62% Thick treacly yet salty … Continue reading
Highland Park 1982 / 1994 Gordon & Macphail Cask #784-786, 788 56.9% vs Highland Park 1983 / 1992 Gordon & Macphail Cask #1556 59.7%
Seems like a bumper crop of young undisclosed Highland Parks has arrived at the independents, most of which seem to have been well received. How about some young HPs from … Continue reading
Croftengea 2008 / 2018 #272 for The Whisky Exchange 54.8% vs Croftengea 11 yo 2007 / 2018 #209 The Single Cask 60.2%
This is Loch Lomond. It’s common practice to designate different names to different styles of makes to differentiate them from the ‘house’ style. But for Loch Lomond, which is able … Continue reading
St Magdalene 30 yo 1975 / 2005 Silver Seal 50% vs Linlithgow (St Magdalene) 1982 / 2008 #2220 Carn Mor 61.8%
If one had a mind to look, one would find available some mid 70s St Magdalenes but a lot of 1982s still floating around. Funny that those I’ve tried seem … Continue reading
Scapa 24 yo 1965 / 1990 Cadenhead 50.1% vs Scapa 25 yo 1980 / 2005 54%
Just 2 distilleries in the Orkney Islands and I don’t need to mention it’s famous brother. Well this is the workhorse sibling, whose output disappears into blends though every now … Continue reading
Bowmore 16 yo Cadenhead Sheriff’s Bowmore Distillery 46% vs Bowmore 13 yo Cadenhead Sheriff’s Bowmore Distillery 80 proof
Bowmore 16 yo Cadenhead Sheriff’s Bowmore Distillery 46% ~early 80s bottling A wondrous combination of some tropical fruit skins (yet not exuberantly fruity) with a clear salt tang, clean earth and … Continue reading
Ardbeg Provenance 2nd Release for the US 23 yo 1974 / 1998 54.7% vs Ardbeg Provenance 1st release 23 yo 1974 / 1997 55.6%
2 of 4 of the monumental Provenance series for Ardbeg. These are landmark whiskies. Ardbeg Provenance 2nd Release for the US 23 yo 1974 / 1998 54.7% This is Ardbeg … Continue reading
Strathisla 1965 / 2011 #3473 vs Tamdhu 21 yo 1990 Old & Rare Douglas Laing
Big sherry night: Strathisla 45 yo 1965 / 2011 Gordon & Macphail for LMDW #3473 48% This one was bottled by LMDW Singapore, half the cask is with a private … Continue reading
Strathisla 34 yo 1937 / 1972 Gordon and Macphail for Pinerolo 43% vs Macallan 1947 securo cap Campbell, Hope & King for Rinaldi 80 proof
Some old Speysiders from around the war years when peat was most likely used to dry the malt. Strathisla 34 yo 1937 / 1972 Gordon and Macphail for Pinerolo 43% … Continue reading
Pechuga Del Maguey PEC-131 49% vs Pierde Almas Conejo 2015 Lote: 06-PC 51%
Pechuga Del Maguey PEC-131 49% This is a special occasion Mezcal only made in season and drunk at important events. It starts with a Minero that’s already been double distilled … Continue reading
Gilbey’s Redbreast 12 yo , John Jameson & Son Liqueur Whiskey vs Jameson 15 yo Limited Millenium Edition 1984 / 2000 vs Daly’s Tullamore Distillery 38 yo 1952 -1991 Cadenhead 68.9%
Some old Irish to ring in the new year. While not as popular as vintage Scotch, Irish eyes are always smiling. I’ve had a hectic but immensely rewarding 2018, I … Continue reading
Dalwhinnie 25 yo 1987 / 2012 Special Release 52.1% vs Dalwhinnie 29 yo 1973 / 2003 Special Release 57.8%
Merry Christmas 2018! Another year of blogging recording my tasting notes for reference .. I have been told blogs aren’t in anymore and it’s all about pretty pictures and instagram. … Continue reading
Glenfiddich-Glenlivet 30 yo 1963 / 1993 Cadenhead 51.7% vs Glenfiddich 1974 / 2002 50th Anniversary Of The Coronation Of HM Queen Elizabeth II #2336 48.9%
Can it be that I have reviewed almost no Glenfiddich all this while? Glenfiddich-Glenlivet 30 yo 1963 / 1993 Cadenhead 51.7% ~green glass white label A moment of truth as … Continue reading
Edradour 10 yo The Distillery Edition vs Edradour Ballechin 4 The Discovery Series
This distillery comes with the fearsome reputation being one whose whisky actually improved this side of 2000. It might be an understatement to say the fact of accomplishing this is … Continue reading
Rosebank 22 yo 1990 / 2012 #93361 Chieftains vs Rosebank 30 yo 1974 / 2005 #1595 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask for Alambic 55.6%
Rosebank 22 yo 1990 / 2012 #93361 Chieftains 50% An unquestionably light touch sherry which is probably best if you had such a light elegant spirit but had to have … Continue reading
Springbank 30 yo 1965 ‘Lost Bottlings Series’ Master of Malt vs Springbank 30 yo parchment label
Just to show not all old bottles were great: Springbank 30 yo 1965 ‘Lost Bottlings Series’ Master of Malt 45.6% Quite an olfactory wave consisting of lots of tiny goings … Continue reading
Glenlivet ‘Over 10 years old’ Mayor, Sworder & Co. vs Glenlivet 20 yo 1965 Intertrade 56.9%
The Malt Affair concluded its third iteration yesterday. What a turn out and what a great bunch of people to call friends! The smiles on faces and the laughter across … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 27 yo 1989 3Rivers/The Whisky Agency vs Bunnahabhain 33 yo 1979 Duncan Taylor Oceans for Japan #5241
Two Bunnahabhains done for the Japanese market. Granted the Japanese are known to have exquisite taste, it’s not surprising these mature Bunnahabhain are of excellent quality. Bunnahabhain 27 yo 1989 … Continue reading
PSA mode: The ExciseMan Whisky Bar & Whisky.Auction charity auction: amazing 1 of 1 bottles
It’s a public service announcement here at Whiskyrific, 2 great announcements: The ExciseMan Whisky Bar, located at the Esplanade Mall #02-27. Lewis and Patricia, proprietors of Le Vigne, a long … Continue reading
Caol Ila ‘Handwritten Label’ 1969 / 1985 59.9% for Meregalli vs Caol Ila 15 yo ‘Celtic Label’ 1969 / 1984 Gordon & Macphail 60.4% for Intertrade
Not the Caol Ila we know today, this Caol Ila is the older one demolished to be rebuilt as the one we know. Caol Ila ‘Handwritten Label’ 1969 / 1985 … Continue reading
Abhainn Dearg 46% vs Aultmore 15 yo 1997 Master of Malt 55.8%
Abhainn Dearg 46% This is a brand new distillery on the Isle of Lewis, founded in 2008, and it is the first distillery in the Outer Hebrides in almost 200 … Continue reading
Deanston Malt 70 proof vs Deanston 35 yo 1967 / 2002 #1051+1052
Not an old distillery, Deanston was converted from a cotton mill to distillery in 1966, so it is really quite interesting to try a 1967 whisky from the year after … Continue reading
A first for Singapore – Joint bottling by The Writing Club, Quaich Bar, The Swan Song, New Ubin Seafood
If you are browsing these pages and are familiar with the local Whisky scene, you would know Khoon Hui, whisky godfather and proprietor of Quaich Bar, the very first … Continue reading
J&G Grant ‘From the Glenlivet District’ 8 yo vs Glenfarclas-Glenlivet 12 yo Pinerolo vs Glenfarclas 15 yo Averna
A few changes here at Whiskyrific. In a bid to streamline and simplify, tasting notes will be condensed to single paragraphs where the focus will be on the overall experience … Continue reading
Clynelish 20 yo 1997 / 2017 Spirit Shop Selection #6927 vs Clynelish 21 yo 1995 / 2017 Elixir Distillers for Scotch Malt Sales
We need more Clynelish, and other whiskies of natural character that shine so well in less obtrusive wood. This distillery is a a personal favourite for more reasons than just … Continue reading
Longmorn 35 yo 1976 Thosop vs Longmorn 46 yo 1964 /2010 Book of Kells #1539 Gordon & MacPhail
Longmorn is undoubtedly one of the stars of Speyside. Unfortunately this star was never allowed to shine too brightly, as it is remains a heart malt of the Chivas range. … Continue reading
Ardbeg 27 yo 1973 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask 282 bttls vs Ardbeg SMWS 33.12 1974 / 1991
The 1970s were phenomenal for Ardbeg. The quality of the whisky from those wondrous years simple cannot be overstated. And unlike neighbours up the road, Ardbeg’s 70s distillate is still … Continue reading
Highland Park 8 yo Ferraretto Import vs Highland Park 1976 First Cask #2013
Modern Highland Park can be very good at a fairly young age, as the recent batch of un-named Orkneys suggest. Assuming they are in fact Highland Park. Though they are … Continue reading
Glenugie 30 yo 1980 / 2011 Deoch an Doras vs Glenugie 32 yo 1977 / 2010 Deoch an Doras
This one comes with a special shoutout and thanks to a keen-eyed Glenugie aficionado. Again there’s not much left to Glenugie, and while it existed it produced some decent and … Continue reading
Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino 2018 vs Laphroaig 200th Anniversary Cairdeas 2015
Laphroaig’s Cairdeas bottles are an annual release made only to the Friends of Laphroaig – easy enough to sign up, and though they do come in significant batch sizes, they … Continue reading
Port Ellen 22 yo 1983 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask ‘Whisky Festival Noord Netherlands’ vs Port Charlotte 2002 / 2010 Malts of Scotland #1172
Because both are ‘Ports’ and both are Islay bred.. Port Ellen 22 yo 1983 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask ‘Whisky Festival Noord Netherlands’ 54.3% Nose: It’s a clean style of … Continue reading
Littlemill 21 yo 1991 Hunter Laing Old Malt Cask #9822 vs Littlemill 22 yo 1992 Hunter Laing Old & Rare #10882
This is one closed distillery whose quality is such that we are truly left bemoaning its closing. Those who were around some 5 years ago might remember the batches of … Continue reading
Longrow 8 yo 1987 / 1995 Signatory #136-138 vs Longrow 1987 / 2005 Samaroli #113
One might say 1987 was a good year for Longrow, and one might be accused of stating the obvious. Longrow 8 yo 1987 / 1995 Signatory #136-138 43% Nose: How … Continue reading
Talisker 12 yo Distillers Agency vs Talisker 10 yo ‘Map label’
‘Made By the Sea’ is right, but not the only distillery on Skye anymore now that Torabhaig is up and running, and since the newcomer has thrown down the gauntlet … Continue reading
Bladnoch 20 yo vs Bladnoch 23 yo 1966 Signatory #2674-76
After a very busy 2 weeks, I find myself with some catching up to do. I am frequently asked for an alternative to Rosebank, and in the camp of light … Continue reading
Springbank 5 yo ‘brown glass bottle’ vs Springbank 21 yo ‘pear shape’
Springbank is clearly one of the unquestionable greats, with the added benefit of having a history of fantastic old bottles from their core range of over half a century now. … Continue reading
Glenburgie 1948 & 1961 / 1981 ‘A special vatting to commemorate the wedding of H.R.H The Prince of Wales to Lady Diana Spencer on 29th July 1981’ vs Glenburgie Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Comparing a very old and a rather new Glenburgie, certainly the only Glenburgie I have anyway. Thanks to friends! Glenburgie 1948 & 1961 / 1981 ‘A special vatting to commemorate … Continue reading
