Tobermory 1972 / 2004, Lombard Jewels of Scotland
The distillery we know as Tobermory today was reconstructed in 1972, and recommenced production in the same year. You might have heard glowing reviews of 1972 Ledaig – Ledaig being … Continue reading
Cockburn’s 20 yo Tawny Port
Another port, but a Tawny Port this time. For Port basics go here. This is Part II – Tawny Port Tawny Port is aged the same way as Whisky – … Continue reading
The Balvenie 14 yo, Goldencask
Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892, and today Balvenie and Glenfiddich are of course sister distilleries, a fact known to most regular whisky drinkers, now owned by the related William … Continue reading
Glenlossie 1984 / 2009, Carn Mor
John Duff plus a few partners founded Glenlossie in 1876. The name goes around somewhat as the colourful character it belonged too was a former Glendronach and Bon Accord manager … Continue reading
Gutierrez Colosia ‘Fino’
While on the topic of Sherry… Gutierrez Colosia is located in El Puerto de Santa Maria on the site of the ruins of the Palace of the Count of Cumbrehermosa -Cargador … Continue reading
Sherry Basics for the Whisky Drinker
So Sherry is traditionally THE most important fortified wine for us whisky drinkers, because back in the day Sherry was what people got drunk on and most importantly, it was … Continue reading
St. Magdalene 23 yo 1982 / 2006, Douglas Laing, OMC
Only the second ever St. Magdalene on Whiskyrific (can’t say I have had many more IRL either) St. Magdalene is a closed distillery, both this and the Chieftains were distilled … Continue reading
Craiglodge, Distillery Select, Single Cask Bottling, 1998 / 2007
In a previous post I described the non conformist, non-SWA member, victorinox many-in-one distillery that is Loch Lomond. Here’s Loch Lomond in the guise of a peaty bruiser. Craiglodge, Distillery … Continue reading
North British 48 yo 1962 / 2010 The Perfect Dram
A grain whisky this time, from North British Distillery. North British does not bottle its whisky, but you and I have certainly drunk a lot of it as the grain … Continue reading
Blair Athol 14 yo, Vom Fass
There isn’t really a whole lot of information on Blair Athol. We know this is a blending distillery, and most of the 2.5 million L output from 4 stills feeds … Continue reading
Royal Lochnagar 1986 / 2009, The Carn Mor Vintage Collection
It’s *ahem* Royal Lohnagar and not plain Lochnagar like it was before 1848, because Queen Victoria visited Lochnagar distillery (located on a mountain named Lochnagar) near her Balmoral estate and … Continue reading
Port basics for the whisky drinker
Part 1 in my fortified wines series, infographic for the whisky drinker: And here’s a picture of a Port pipe, 650L, looks likes a sherry butt no? But bigger … Continue reading
Caperdonich 1977 / June 2002, 24 yo, Cadenhead Original Collection
Caperdonich started life as Glen Grant # 2 in 1898, being located across the street from its famous neighbour. The owners didn’t bother much with naming it anything else. Unfortunately … Continue reading
Grahams LBV Port 2000
A port! How is that whisky related? Why, some whisky is matured or finished in Port pipes no? Right, I started my alcoholic adventures with port so its back to … Continue reading
Rosebank 16yo 1990 / 2006 Malt Pedigree by La Maison Du Whisky
I have not heard of this range, apparently by La Maison themselves? So uncommon I couldn’t even find a good picture of a full bottle: Rosebank 16yo 1990 / 2006, … Continue reading
Talisker 57° North
NAS Talisker… Hmmm…. Talisker is up there on my list of quality malts. Mentally the basic 10 is the standard against which I measure ‘coastal’ whiskies. So I’m really curious … Continue reading
Longmorn 1969, Gordon & Macphail for La Maison Du Whisky
Longmorn is a fine fine whisky – one of those ‘God I hope it gets more appreciation but not too much that profit-lust overtakes quality and common sense’ whiskies. This … Continue reading
Bowmore 1998 2013 The Whisky Agency ‘Stamps’
Another Bowmore – I’ve had a 17 yo OB duty free special ( malt from 1990 and earlier) that was well perfumed and sweetly peaty, the 1968 Signatory that was … Continue reading
Ichiro’s Malt 1991 (Hanyu)
Bought this little 200ml bottle in Japan back in 2010, after that Yoichi 20 yo, curiosity got the better of me and I’ve cracked it open. Ok so this is … Continue reading
Ardbeg 17 yo 1994, Cadenheads Cask Ends,
This will be an interesting post : ) Perhaps the most ‘cult’ of the big 3 on the Kildalton shore – good lord have you seen the auction prices on … Continue reading
Glenallachie 40 yo 1971 / 2011, The Exclusive Malts, Cask 739
Another big blending distillery. Seems to be quite common on Whiskyrific eh? All distilleries can produce both good and bad whisky, but Glenallachie, according to online sources, I paraphrase as … Continue reading
Glen Scotia 16 yo
Talk about being in the shadows, Glen Scotia knows the feeling all too well. 1 of the 3 remaining Campbeltown distilleries, its operates in the shadow of its neighbour Springbank. … Continue reading
Bowmore 1968 / 2000 Signatory Vintage Cask 1422
OOoh finally. Old one. Bowmore isn’t one I’ve had in some time. I once had a 17yo OB from the Changi duty free, which was ahem perfumed, but not overly … Continue reading
Laphroaig 10 yo Cask Strength, Batch 1, Feb 2009
Old bottle I have, pulled down from behind the Bowmores. I know this one, and I know what to expect! Alright, remember the strange still set up – 7 … Continue reading
Campbeltown Loch
There is in fact a real Campbeltown Loch – Loch Chille Chiarain, its gaelic name, ‘is a small sea loch near the south of the Kintyre Peninsula facing eastwards towards the Firth of Clyde‘ (Wikipedia) But … Continue reading
Lagavulin vs itself
Standing in front of my whisky shelf I realize I have more Lagavulin open than any other distillery. 5 open bottles vs 2 for Laphroaig, 2 Mortlach, 2 Clynelish, 2 … Continue reading
Black Bottle Fine Old Scotch Whisky
This is a blend by Burn Stewart Distillers (Tobermory), the blend includes malt from Islay, and is in fact known to be a peaty blend. … Continue reading
Tamdhu 1973 / 2008 Gordon & Macphail Reserve, 1st fill sherry butt no. 3230
Another 6 still 4.5 million litre a year blending machine. Quite a few of those finding their way into indie bottles too. No complaints here. Being distilled in 1973, this … Continue reading
Ben Nevis 37 yo 1966/2003 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask for Skorupa
Ben Nevis (the mountain) is Scotland’s tallest at 4406 feet. Beautiful sight, and if you wanted to visit the distillery, you wouldn’t have to go all the way to the … Continue reading
Glen Grant 39 yo 1972/2011 The Perfect Dram
Finally, Glen Grant. When I see ancient bottles at (relatively) fair prices, it’s likely a Glen Grant or Strathisla, and it’s going to be thanks to Gordon & Macphail and … Continue reading
Lagavulin 1997/2013 ‘Distillers Edition’
Lagavulin DE got a facelift, check out the pretty new bottle! Lagavulin ‘The Distillers Edition’ 1997/2013, lgv. 4/502, 43% Nose: Lagavulin-esque. Immediately dry smoke, coastal scents, rubber, seaweed and … Continue reading
50th post! Yoichi 20yo for a reward
My word, made it to 50! This calls for something nice. Yoichi Distillery Yoichi potstills displaying the varied sizes and shapes used by a Japanese distiller to make different styles … Continue reading
Port Ellen 15 yo 1969, Sestante
(circa 2009) What a treat – Port Ellen only reopened in 1967 (closed for good in 1983) and this beautiful bottle comes from a time when the distillery had only … Continue reading
The Singleton of Glen Ord 12 yo
It’s really just surplus Glen Ord 12 yo bottled under the ‘Singleton’ label and sold at duty frees etc.. The original ‘Singleton’ label was created by United Distillers (one of … Continue reading
Ledaig 1997/2013 Gordon & Macphail, ‘La Maison Du Whisky’, cask 461
Ledaig, that’s really peated Tobermory of course. From the Isle of Mull. Though blind tasted, it may well be mistaken for a whisky on the south coast of an island … Continue reading
Japanese whisky – differences in production
Japanese Whisky Production There is no doubt that the Japanese produce good whisky, very much on par with the best Scotch Malt. I have always known this, but the breadth … Continue reading
Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 yo ‘The Centenary Malt’
Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18 yo ‘The Centenary Malt’ 40% Another Johnnie. Note that this is NOT the same as the current (2013/4) NAS Gold label that seems to be … Continue reading
Longmorn 1975/2011 Malts of Scotland
Longmorn 1975/2011 Malts of Scotland, 46.4% Bourbon Hogshead 3977, 122 bottles Nose: Luxuriant but hot. Juicy syrupy red berries, fruits of the forest style, that reminds me a … Continue reading
Talisker DE 1991/205 TD-S: 5GS
Some whiskies are so so shy, one has to coax it out of the glass by artful manipulation (swirl swirl swirl), or else by plain duress (plain water treatment). In … Continue reading
Loch Lomond Distillery
Loch Lomond Distillery, or ‘Scotland in a teacup’, or maybe the sexier ‘Scottish Rebel, Ye Distillers By Name’. If you are reading this blog, (and I myself because I write … Continue reading
Whisky pairings
Whisky and food – strange bedfellows? Not so, says Martine Nouet, long a proponent of cooking with whisky, and that’s all 3 courses. Her website is illuminating, it even gives … Continue reading
LG1 (Lagavulin)
LG1 So this is the first Lagavulin in Specialty Drink’s Elements range. I bought 2 of these when it first came out and immensely regret not getting more. Its only … Continue reading
Mortlach 14 yo 1993/2008 Duncan Taylor NC2
Ok quick one, need to sleep earlier. Young Mortlach this time: Mortlach 14 yo 1993/2008 Duncan Taylor NC2 46% Nose: This bottle really nosed differently the first pour and … Continue reading
Glenfarclas 21 yo
Hooray for the independents! Glenfarclas is still family owned, and independently operated, by J. & G. Grant – not the William Grant & Sons of Glenfiddich fame, making it a … Continue reading
Glass hunt and 2 whiskies
Whiskyrific has been on a bit of a whisky glass hunt this weekend. You see I am hosting a whisky tasting for some friends next weekend, and I simply do … Continue reading
Macallan 1990/2011, Malts of Scotland, Fino Sherry Hogshead 1135
It’s a Macallan. THAT coveted distillery beloved of hungry collectors, capable of selling a NAS whisky for GBP380,000. They do make a fine whisky truth be told, with their famously … Continue reading
Clynelish 15 yo, Adelphi 1997, cask 6521
A bit of the history behind Clynelish and Brora has been mentioned in the Brora 1981 LMDW post, so the tale does not bear retelling here. Nonetheless, Clynelish does fill … Continue reading
Lagavulin 16
Happy Chinese New Year! As this is the year of the Horse What better way for Whiskyrific to welcome it with Lagavulin 16. Loch water rushing over rocksy falls, barley … Continue reading
Springbank 10yo ‘100 proof’
Campbeltown used to be a major whisky producing region, a centre of distilling the way Speyside is today but spotty quality control and massive over production (I’m sure there were … Continue reading
Chivas Regal 21 yo Royal Salute
This is an old blend, Chivas launched this in 1953 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The constituent malts are not known, except for the heart malt which is … Continue reading
