Bowmore Jug 1955 vs Samaroli Bouquet 1966
End of the week and feeling like something absolutely first-rate? It’s a no-brainer then, back to Bowmore we go. The way I do this blog seemed great at the beginning: … Continue reading
Karuizawa 1984 #3663 vs Kavalan Fino Solist #SO60814013
Karuizawa I feel saying Karuizawa can be really good is like preaching to the choir. Well. It can. But it can also be overwoody and overly ‘sulphurous’. Of course many … Continue reading
Laphroaig 18yo ~2015 vs Cairdeas Origin 51.2%
Two maybe, just maybe, slightly less intense Laphroaigs. We know the rule of thumb that the more time a peated whisky spends in the cask the less peated it will … Continue reading
Caroni: Carribean XO Berry Bros vs Caroni 1997 The Rum Swedes #106 vs Caroni 12 yo 1996 Krugers Whiskygalerie #1107
This is the first rum head to head, I think Caroni would be an excellent subject. The Caroni Distillery, founded 1918, produced rum in Trinidad until it closed in 2002, leaving … Continue reading
Clynelish 19yo 1995/2014 Liquid Library vs 17yo 1995/2013 Signatory The Whisky Exchange #12794
When I drove up to Highland Park (ferry ride in between), one of the must-stop gawking highlights along the way was Clynelish. And gawk I did. This site is holy … Continue reading
Glenfarclas 40yo vs 47yo 1966 Fino #4194, 4195, 4197 vs 1969/1989 Signatory Vintage #52-54
A trio of vintage Glenfarclas: An well aged official, then an even older one from the premium Family Casks range, and finally a youngish but long bottled independent. Sounds about … Continue reading
Rosebank 21yo 2011 Special Release vs 21yo 2014 Special Release
Rosebank survived the big kill off of the 80s and really did make it over to the optimistic side of the 90s, but was unceremoniously mothballed in 1993. The city location … Continue reading
Springbank 17yo 1989 ACEO #145 vs Batch 1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company vs 15yo 1996 Director’s Cut #8700
Out of the veritable graveyard of distilleries that is Campbeltown comes mankind’s last best chance for peace hope future traditional whisky. And its true too. The only place in Scotland … Continue reading
Glenmorangie – 10yo (1970s) vs 1963 Official vs ‘Traditional’ 100 proof
Here’s a trio of very different Glenmorangie. The first is an old official 10 year old, Singapore import. From back when postal codes were single digits: Fitzpatrick’s Food Supplies, 300 … Continue reading
Yamazaki Puncheon 2013 vs Miyagikyo 12 yo
Yes about time for something from somewhere else, and entry level for a change of pace. Japanese Malts are certainly popular now. People forget they used to have a bargain … Continue reading
Glen Grant: 1990 G&M vs 25yo George Strachan vs 1955/2005 G&M
Glen Grant is one of those malts that seems to really shine with extended aging. Long and extended aging. Not many malts can take 40 or 50 years in a … Continue reading
Mortlach 15yo G&M 43% vs 46yo 1936 G&M 40% vs 32yo Official 1971 2004 Special Release 50.1%
Merry Christmas and a mega Mortlach do. I was very blessed to fill the last 3 days of festivities with friends, family and food, lots of food. Beef, turkey, ham, … Continue reading
Ardbeg 26 yo 1974 Douglas Laing OMC vs Ledaig 22 yo 1972 Lost Bottlings
So its been peat peat peat recently, why not continue? Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin are often compared to each other as the holy triumvirate in their peaty domain. Less appreciated … Continue reading
Port Ellen 25yo 1982 Berry Bros #2469 46% vs Caol Ila 29yo 1984 Hunter Laing 50.2%
Sister distilleries, one survived and the other didn’t. But why? That Port Ellen stopped distilling in 1983 is a great tragedy most today will agree on. That Port Ellen was only … Continue reading
Legendary Laphroaig: 1970 Samaroli vs 1967 Samaroli
This particular pairing is a long time coming. Even now I don’t feel really prepared for it. It’s an understatement to say these are sought after bottles, so good luck … Continue reading
Bowmore, 3 decades: 17yo Cooper’s Choice 1995/2013, Official 1965, 12yo Jewels of Scotland 1989
The slenderness of the spirit stills is a little surprising no? So the order for this line up is a bit strange. That’s not unexpected because Bowmore is one … Continue reading
Talisker: 30yo 2011release vs 27yo 1985 2013 Special Release
Back to the beautiful Isle of Skye. For nature buffs, I cannot recommend this stunning island enough, but you have to drive out to the remote corners of the island … Continue reading
Glendronach 19yo #3326 vs Glenfarclas 20yo ‘105’
Well now that whiskylive is over, and those who passed the weekend in a malty haze might start to think about what next to drink… Why these 2 in particular? … Continue reading
Caperdonich Boutique-y Batch 4 vs 20yo 1992 Berry Bros #121125
If you need any proof that the whisky making process is not fully understood consider the strange case of Caperdonich. Built next to Glen Grant, and at one time even … Continue reading
Closed Lowlanders: Littlemill 1991/2015 G&M Rare Old RO/15/04 vs St. Magdalene 1975/2012 G&M Rare Old RO/12/07
Maybe not the best lowland pairing. Littlemill is generally light, sometimes fruity-grass whisky that wasn’t even distilled in pot stills. That’s right, it was distilled in stills with their tops … Continue reading
Ardbeg: A young special, a young standard and a young independent
This was more tiring that I thought it would be, this is a big big distillate, and 2 of them at least were big big whiskies. It is one thing … Continue reading
Linkwood: from the 00s, 90s and 80s
Linkwood uses long fermentations and clear wort. Shouldn’t that mean a fruity and clean spirit? But it also distills in fat stills with downward sloping lyne arms, presumably to preserve … Continue reading
Glen Garioch: Founder’s Reserve, 48% (!) vs 12 yo, 48%
Nerdy trivia: An example of a distillery with 3 stills that only double distills? Glen Garioch. It once had 4 stills but was forced to remove one. Fortunately the wash … Continue reading
Caol Ila: G&M Reserve 1996/2009 13yo #16116 46%, 18yo Official ~2014, Perfect Dram 1995/2013 18yo 50.6%
Caol Ila is, simply put, under-appreciated. Peat heads see it as a gentle peater but it makes an excellent consistent malt that seems to do well at any age. Not … Continue reading
Blair Atholl 12yo Flora & Fauna vs Dailuaine 16yo Flora & Fauna
Head-to-head. Blair Athol Flora & Fauna 12 years vs Dailuaine Flora & Fauna 16 years. It is said you learn a lot more comparing 2 whiskies than having just one … Continue reading
Old Pulteney 12yo 40%
This Northen part of the highlands have some very interesting distilleries, and also some of the best. Brora and Clynelish are what I have in mind, but travel even further north … Continue reading
Auchentoshan Silveroak 22yo 1990/2012 50.9%
This might be the easiest distillery to get to for a tourist who isn’t in Scotland for the whisky. Just outside Glasgow, a breeze to get to, conspicuously sited next … Continue reading
Tormore 1984/2005 20yo Cadenhead Authentic Collection 59.4%
Quick one, my how time flies when your hands are full. It is difficult to find a picture of this bottle, despite being bottled only all of 10 years past, … Continue reading
Ardmore 1977/1995 18yo Cadenhead White Label cask 7625 59.9%
This is an older range by Cadenhead known colloquially as the White Label or Distillery Label range, and included some very big names – Port Ellen, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Springbank, … Continue reading
Longmorn 25yo 1985 2006 Signatory for LMdW cask 11545 52.6%
For a distillery that’s a lynchpin of the industry there’s not really a lot of information on Longmorn, we know it was popular with blenders from the day its whisky … Continue reading
Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, 50%
Sometimes I wonder if I am overlooking something in Bruichladdich. It’s easy to do so when one talks about Islay and by the conversation it seems that there are only 3 … Continue reading
Irish Single Malt 26 yo 1987/2014 The Nectar of the Daily Drams, for LMdW 51.6%
That the Irish whiskey industry nearly collapsed and left the entire country with just 2 distilleries by 1975 is a tragedy, where the lead actors are variously billed as war, … Continue reading
Tomatin 12 yo 43% ~2013
At one time an absolute giant of an unknown with 23 stills, now somewhat lessened at a more sane 12 stills. Small distillery this is not. It is vast and grey, … Continue reading
Balvenie Madeira Cask 17yo 43%
If you have heard the news coming out of the States you would know the Bourbon scene is in the midst of a craft revolution. It is true that there have … Continue reading
Brothers-in-arms, 14yo Irish Single Malt, 43%
Just for a change of pace (because everyone needs to get different once in a while), a blended Irish by Vom Fass. Von Fass is a German retailer of fine … Continue reading
Aberfeldy 1996/2013, Connoisseurs Choice 46%
Another distillery opened by a blender looking to expand his supply, the Dewars in this case, Aberfeldy’s story is therefore tied to the brand. Yet shortly after the First World War, … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 40yo 1973 ‘The Birthday Dram’ for The Whiskyman 48.5%
There is good Taiwanese whisky, there is good Japanese, Indian, Bourbon etc… But I believe that only countries with climates that are mild and temperate all year round can produce truly exceptional … Continue reading
Glentauchers 1991/2007 43%
Glentauchers and blends like ‘Black and White’ and ‘Teachers’ have a long relationship – James Buchanan who founded Glentauchers also created the ‘Black and White’ blend, and the distillery’s spirit … Continue reading
Macallan 1957 25 yo Anniversary Malt 43%
Happy 50th National Day Singapore. The occasion lives up to its hype. This is a milestone for the country, with much accomplished but also many ways we can improve, and … Continue reading
Glendronach Octarine 46%
Not sure why I haven’t had more Glendronach than this, so confident am I in this whisky that I always recommend it as a sucessor to Macallan when somebody says … Continue reading
Glen Moray 12yo, 40%
The previous Glen Moray was a little strange, and strangely so, as a SMWS bottle often means a good one. How about an official then? What? And why? Do official … Continue reading
Aultmore 1982 Berry Bros 57.8%
Not a distillery that sits at the top of anyone’s favourites list, unless you’re a blender, then it’s a top class blending malt for you. Sort of strange but not so … Continue reading
Hannisville Rye Whiskey, 1863
How the world turns, yesterday the collectors were falling over Ardbeg, now it’s Yamazaki. In fact Japanese single malt is pretty much sold out everywhere. Somewhere in the middle of … Continue reading
Pittyvaich 1993/2005 Connoisseurs Choice G&M 43%
When I stepped into Gordon & Macphail in Elgin, I was in two minds – I could go for the well aged high value bottle like a G&M shop exlcusive, … Continue reading
Ardmore 16 you 1996 Douglas Laing OMC cask 8020 50%
Sorry for the long intermission, life got busy for a bit, but it’s not like I stopped drinking. So, this is Ardmore. Rather famous for being the peated Speysider, and not … Continue reading
Clynelish, 1995/2010 Samaroli ‘Glen Cawdor’ cask 1469, 45%
Samaroli is an Italian independent bottler, just like Cadenhead or Signatory in the UK. ‘Italian?’ You say, ‘What do Italians have to do with bottling Scotch whisky?’ In fact there … Continue reading
St. Magdalene 19yo 1979 Rare Malts 63.8%
This bottle is a legendary one, so I am going in with high expectations; which probably isn’t fair objectively. But if a famous writer can intentionally hamstring Ardbeg because ‘it … Continue reading
Balblair 10yo Gordon & Macphail 43% (2014)
Balblair is a highlander, not far from Glenmorangie and Dalmore, and sits inland less than a kilometer from the Dornoch Firth. It is one of a small band of northern … Continue reading
Mortlach, 21yo, 1991/2012, cask 12/943, Signatory, 53.8%
Distillation regime is a complex thing but most would know distilleries usually utilize double distillation, a few triple distill, and the insanely adventurous folks at Bruichladdich even quadruple distilled once. Only … Continue reading
Cardhu 21yo, 2013 Special Release, 54.2%
To gauge the ties between Cardhu and Johnnie Walker, one need only consider that as far back as 1893, John Walker and Sons considered the distillery so integral, they bought it. And so … Continue reading
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