Ardbeg 14 yo Cadenhead 80 proof vs Ardbeg 11 yo 1975/1986 Corti Brothers 86 proof
2 hard to find Ardbegs from the early 70s, so I suspect going to be very good, but just how good: Ardbeg 14 yo Cadenhead 80 proof A mini, though … Continue reading
Royal Brackla 18yo 1993/2012 Signatory #6755 vs Royal Lochnagar 23yo 1973/1997 Rare Malts
For want of sufficient samples of both royal distilleries, I’ve gone and put them together. Not sure it’s really a good idea as we know Royal Brackla is prime blending … Continue reading
Glenlivet ‘An Unbended All Malt’ Baretto import vs Glenlivet 1966 Gordon & Macphail
First Glenlivet post, I can’t believe it myself, took long enough. (slmaonline.com) Plenty of ‘famous’ distilleries now, but up to the 1980s many single malts were labelled with the ‘ … Continue reading
Laphroaig 21 (200th Anniversary 2015) vs Laphroaig 17 yo 1987 for Monnier Trading
Laphroaig 21 yo, 200th Anniversary 2015 48.4% Nose: After a fruity 15 yo and a rather sweet 18 yo, what cloth is the 21 cut from? A cleaner less loud … Continue reading
Bruichladdich 1970 vs Bruichladdich 15 yo 1965 Moon Import decanter ‘Royal Wedding’
I quite like the Bruichladdichs from the independents, distilled in the early 90s and ONLY those matured in refill bourbon. Fresh, elegant and fruity, and very honest. Older Bruichladdichs are … Continue reading
‘Old Highland Cream’ Special Reserve 24 yo ‘Xmas 1950’ vs Ardmore 20 yo 1968/1988 Dun Eideann #5490+5491
I love Wednesdays… that are also National Days… ‘Old Highland Cream’ Special Reserve 24 yo, dated Xmas 1950, for the Directors of Teachers The suspicion is that this is a … Continue reading
Clynelish 22 yo 1989/2011 The Whisky Agency ‘Moody Lions’ vs Clynelish 27 yo 1982/2010 The Perfect Dram
As far as whisky goes, I am convinced Clynelish, together with it’s silent alter ego, are clearly the jewels of the Northern Highlands. Will the new Dornoch distillery – whose … Continue reading
Glen Keith 20 yo 1992/2013 Master of Malt Single Cask #120598 vs Glen Keith 20 yo 1995/2016 Douglas Laing Old particular #DL11169
Glen Keith is another ‘new’ distillery, if you just for a moment ignore the plethora of distilleries planned and opened this boom side of the 2010s. Construction started in 1957 … Continue reading
Bowmore 38 yo 1957 #216-220 vs Bowmore ‘Sherriff’s’ 7 yo Cogis import
Two not just old Bowmore, but proper old old, distilled in the later bit of the 50s. While the 60s is still more or less obtainable if you are willing to … Continue reading
Kilchoman Machir Bay vs Lagavulin 8 yo ‘200th Anniversary’
Young peated Islay. Kilchoman is still the newest distillery on Islay, built 2005, last time anyone tried to do so was some 120 year prior. The trend is not lost … Continue reading
Laphroaig 10yo Mario Rossi import vs Laphroaig 10yo Filippi Fausto import
2 old Laproaig 10 year old Italian imports, what’s with all these names? They were the importer companies in their respective periods, which may in fact overlap! Laphroaig 10yo Mario … Continue reading
Lim Eiling 27yo Single Malt Irish Whiskey 1989/2016 vs Lim Eiling 22yo Single Malt Irish Whiskey 1991/2014
Thanks to Lim Eiling, beloved wife of Luc Timmermans, and also first independent bottler in Malaysia, we in Asia now have a great range of well presented whiskies that’s somewhat … Continue reading
Tomatin Legacy vs Tomatin 18 yo
There’s an old theory the whisky companies tried to perpetuate some years ago, that people come to whisky through the gentle lowlanders first and then take baby steps before arriving … Continue reading
Jura 8 yo 70 proof 26 2/3 fl. oz. vs Jura 26 yo Stillman’s Dram 1965 45%
The Isle of Jura distillery can be found on the South Eastern end of Jura overlooking Small Isles Bay and that nearly 10km of Atlantic that separates it from mainland … Continue reading
Hakushu 18yo vs Hakushu 25 yo
With Japanese whisky soaring in popularity, I don’t think any introduction is required for Hakushu. Just a reminder of the sibling relationship to Yamazaki, something you might notice in the … Continue reading
Glen Garioch 40 yo 1971/2011 for The Whisky Exchange #2038 vs Glen Garioch 30yo 1978/2009
Glen Garioch is another distillery we can thank for some fantastic stuff distilled in the 70s. Very much worth searching out in my view. We know Glen Garioch was producing … Continue reading
St. Magdalene 30 yo 1982/2013 Douglas Laing Old & Rare vs St. Magdalene 25 yo 1982/2008 Blackadder butt # 2180
Out of action following a very busy season, followed by a severe nose killing flu. Back now, and looking for a challenge, so St. Magdalene it is. I know some … Continue reading
Caol Ila 17 yo 1995/2013, The Whisky Agency vs Caol Ila 33 yo 1979, Malts of Scotland, #12022
Caol Ila is another old faithful on Islay. Everybody knows the scale of production here, yes it’s huge, some say industrial. You know in perusing whisky related content online, I … Continue reading
Inchmurrin That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch 1
Inchmurrin is peated Loch Lomond, or rather one of Loch Lomond’s peated variants. It was supposed to be a medium peated and aperitif style, but who knows really, I haven’t … Continue reading
Happy Birthday my boy. Largiemeanoch (Bowmore) 1967 12 yo, The Howgate Wine Co. , #2655, 2656, 2657, 95 proof/54.2%
So quickly 1 turns to 2. Before I knew it your first year doubled to two but more than double has been the joy you brought to our lives this … Continue reading
Port Ellen 30 yo 60th Anniversary Bottling Douglas Laing 2009 vs Port Ellen 28 yo 1982 Old Bothwell for Germany #2039
Whiskyrific has been offline a fortnight now, that’s because we have been on holiday which culminated at the Limburg Whisky Fair. World’s largest whisky festival. It was absolutely amazing. One … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 25 yo 1988/2013 #4344 vs Bunnahabhain 34 yo 1980/2014 # 847945
Bunnahabhain is in a bit of a strange place – It’s quite widely available, both as officials and independents, so much so in fact almost every independent has stocks of … Continue reading
Tomatin 30 yo ~ 2014 release vs Tomatin 32 yo 1981/2014 Oloroso Butt #001
Sometimes I get quite bored trawling through whisky groups and websites because it feels like the same very popular names keep appearing. Look these can be great whiskies in their … Continue reading
Glen Garioch 21 yo (bottled 1995) vs Glen Garioch 22 yo 1990/2012 Mackillop’s Choice #10295
The idea here is to compare 2 Glen Garioch in their early 20s, one distilled circa early 70s and the other distilled 1990. I expect noticeable changes, as Glen Garioch lost … Continue reading
International Whisky Day: Lochside 1967 / 2012 Malts of Scotland #12016
This March 27th, is International Whisky Day, chosen for the birthday of the late great Michael Jackson. It seems whisky hardly needs more awareness nowadays, and Michael can rest easy … Continue reading
Irish Nectar of the Daily Drams ex rum casks: Ireland 24yo 1989/2014 #16262 42.2% vs Ireland 22 yo 1991/2014 #10657 46.6%
Why couldn’t I just do this last week when it would have gone perfectly for St Patricks I wonder. Anyway, up this week – 2 Irish Single Malts of certain … Continue reading
Glann ar Mor Maris Otter vs Kornog Roc’h Hir vs Kornog Sant Erwan 2016
Somehow the fact of it being St. Patrick’s day yesterday completely escaped me, and instead of doing the proper thing and having Irish whiskey I instead embarked on French whisky. … Continue reading
Clynelish 12 yo Di Chiano vs Clynelish 17 1997 / 2015 Hunter Laing # HL11236
Lagavulin is my favourite distillery, but Clynelish is a hair’s breadth away. Unlike Lagavulin or some of the smaller Diageo distilleries which have a core range or else an output … Continue reading
Cognac XO 20 years Vom Fass vs Cognac Lot 65 Vallein Tercinier
Much delayed post, due to work and national service obligations. This one is on Cognac, a very rare occurrence on my blog. Simple reason – whisky is avoided by some … Continue reading
Ardbeg 10 ~1975 vs Ardbeg 24 yo Cadenhead for Sestante ~1965
By now you must have heard that 2 illustrious figures in the whisky world have left us. Dr Jim Swan was a veritable fountain of knowledge and expertise and was … Continue reading
Lagavulin line up: Lagavulin 16 ~2016 vs Lagavulin 16 White Horse early 90s vs Lagavulin12 geen glass cream label vs Lagavulin 12 clear glass white label
Glorious Lagavulin. This represents the standard ‘entry’ Lagavulins from today to the 70s. A line up I have been meaning to do for some time. No other reason but oh … Continue reading
Rosebank 70 proof Distiller’s Agency vs Rosebank 20yo Zenith 57% Distiller’s Agency
Both the oldest and the youngest – well technically, it is a NAS – of official 70s Rosebanks at a go. You might find others like the 8 yo, 12 … Continue reading
Highland Park Edward Giaccone vs Highland Park 1973 ‘The Dragon’ 56.4%
A welcome return to Orkney and Highland Park Below is a snapshot of the famous Maes Howe cairn, relevant later with regard to The Dragon. And this is how the … Continue reading
Bowmore 18 yo 43% ~2012 bottling vs Bowmore 21 yo 1989 / 2011 Nectar of the Daily Dram
More Bowmore? What’s wrong with him? No seriously. This is one distillery that one should make every effort to try the independents on, because the official stuff well.. isn’t quite living … Continue reading
Ledaig 16 yo 1997 Old Particular Douglas Laing #10034 vs Ledaig Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company
Ledaig also has a storied and chequered past if anyone is interested in finding out more. And that’s not nearly enough anyones, because this is a fine whisky and an … Continue reading
Laphroaig Highgrove 12 yo 1999/2013 #5162 vs Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength Green Stripe
Unless you don’t routinely tune in to whisky news, updates, fan clubs, cults etc, you can’t have missed Beam’s very clever marketing drive recently where they got people who have … Continue reading
Springbank 21 yo ~90s vs Springbank 35 yo 1968 Chieftains #1413
A week into 2017 and already the days fly by. This was meant to be a new year post and it’s a little long in the tooth now but Happy … Continue reading
Bladnoch 22 yo 1991 #4603 Mackillop’s Choice vs Bladnoch 22 yo 1990/2013 #5762
An update since I last looked at Bladnoch. Bladnoch had been closed and silent since it’s parent company started liquidation proceedings. Naturally a distillery for sale at such a time … Continue reading
Caol Ila 30 yo 1983 Special Release 2014 vs Caol Ila 33 yo 1980 #10159 Directors Cut
No messing about. I want something good, peaty and well matured tonight. Laphroaig and Caol Ila usually hold court in that category. It’s going to be Caol Ila since it … Continue reading
Arran 1998/2007 Connoisseurs Choice vs Arran 17 yo 1996 Old Particular # 9983
Arran is one of the youngest distilleries around, though that it actually sells a core range of whisky makes it an oldie next to the likes of Ardnamurchan and Wolfsburn. … Continue reading
Clynelish 24 yo 1965/1989 Cadenhead yellow label vs Brora 24 yo 1977/2001 Rare Malts
Someone told me I don’t do enough modern whisky, someone else told me I don’t do enough old whisky. It’s hard to please people! But Clynelish and Brora are such … Continue reading
Bowmore Black Rock ~2014 vs Bowmore White Sands 17 yo ~2014
I feel like I have written a lot about Bowmore already. And nowadays one doesn’t even need to do a cursory introduction on this most illustrious of names. Some of … Continue reading
Glen Grant 40yo 1973 Samaroli #6588 vs Glen Grant 31 yo 1970 #1025 Samaroli
Those contemplating a visit to Speyside should certainly factor in a visit to Glen Grant. The grounds are large and carefully laid out with a horticulturalist’s zeal. There is a … Continue reading
Irish Whiskey: Knappogue Castle 1995 vs Midleton Dair Ghaelach Grinsell’s Wood Batch 1, Tree 9
Knappogue Castle 1995 40% This is a label that has been used to bottle various unnamed Irish distilleries of various vintages, but this 1995 is known to be a Bushmills. … Continue reading
Royal Brackla 33 yo 1976 #6920 Mackillop’s Choice vs Royal Brackla 30 yo 1984/2015 Cadenhead
Like Royal Lochnagar and Glenury Royal, Brackla has a story on how it got its Royal prefix. No, you cannot use ‘Royal’ as your given name in the UK, this … Continue reading
Longmorn 25 yo 1969/1994 Centenary vs Longmorn 20 yo 1964/1985 Intertrade
Longmorn befuddles me. The modern stuff seems so unyielding and passive-aggressive, but the old stuff is so expressively rich and luxurious. Is it just a question of time, whether spent … Continue reading
Ardbeg 21 yo 1992 #10065 Old Particular vs Ardbeg 23 yo 1991 #10274 Directors’ Cut
New Ardbegs at 20+ years exists but are fairly uncommon. And now that news on the new official 21 yo has done the media circuit, seems like a great time … Continue reading
Aberlour 12 yo vs Aberlour 16 yo vs Aberlour 18 yo
Don’t really see a lot of Aberlour around, and if it is Single Malt, it’s usually one of the A’bunadhs. It may be because Pernod doesn’t really market their Single … Continue reading
Classic of Islay (Lagavulin) #1964 vs Lagavulin 7 yo Jack Wieber vs Lagavulin 12 yo 2015 annual release
So I had done this over the weekend, figuring to put it aside as I just posted on the utterly bespoke Boyao Zhao, and really .. how many mad people … Continue reading
Glendronach 39 yo 1971 oloroso sherry butt #489 vs Glenfarclas 21 yo 1980 Imported by Filliers Graanstokerij
Sherry vs sherry, or.. Just because it’s sherried doesn’t mean it’s the same. Glendronach 39 yo 1971/2010 oloroso sherry butt #489 Batch 2 48.8% Nose: Glorious. Perfect thick old time … Continue reading
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