Macallan Batch 4, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, 44.3%
Only the third Macallan to feature here, or is that meant to read already the third Macallan to feature here. I firmly believe that the Macallan is at heart a … Continue reading
Glen Scotia 22yo 1991/2013 Hunter Laing OMC 15th Aniv. 57.4%
Glen Scotia in Campbeltown occupies a somewhat uncomfortable spot next to illustrious Springbank, and it doesn’t help that its owners, Glen Catrine Bonded Warehouse, haven’t seen fit to push their … Continue reading
Springbank 12yo Batch 6 Cask Strength, 50.3%
Springbank, and Glenfarclas, are the last remaining family owned distilleries in Scotland. Thank heavens for that too, as Spingbank has seen no need to bow to the pantheon of efficiency, bottomline and … Continue reading
Lagavulin 12 yo 2014 Special Release, 54.4%
This Lagavulin features in every Diageo special release as an affordable entry level bottle. 2014 saw both a 12 yo cask strength and a 37 year old, that’s 2 Lagavulins … Continue reading
Glenlossie 43 yo 1938/1981 Connoisseur’s Choice 40%
A very special post today, because of certain developments in the family space. My status has changed, and with it a seismic shift in responsibility. To those who are already … Continue reading
Royal Lochnagar 16yo 1997/2013 cask 10021 Douglas Laing Old Particular 48.4%
The Lochnagar distillery that earned itself, and its successor, a royal prefix lies under the foundations of the modern Royal Lochnagar. It is a familiar story: the young Queen Victoria … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 7yo 2006/2013 cask 800088 Berry Brothers 57.8%
The Bunnahabhain most would be familiar with is an unpeated nectar, big bone-d with honey and lots of sherry maturation, which is essentially the house style as we know it. … Continue reading
Kilchoman, Batch 1, That Boutique-y Whisky Company 55.5%
How is it that a man who counts Islay malts as his favourite, who has twice been to that storm lashed sentinel stalwart against the fury of the open Atlantic, the Queen … Continue reading
Linkwood 22yo 1991/2013 cask 11152 Duncan Taylor Dimensions 52.4%
What makes a whisky able to withstand decades in a cask? Linkwood along with Mortlach, Macallan, Strathisla and Glen Grant are good examples of whiskies capable of extraordinary aging, but … Continue reading
Clynelish, Batch 2, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, 50.6%
‘That Boutique-y Whisky Company’ is really the name of the bottler, a cutting edge modern name too, for a relatively conservative industry. It is owned and run by Masters of … Continue reading
Loch Lomond 12 yo, 2000/2012, Dà Mhìle 46%
Dà Mhìle, the Original Organic Whisky, since 1992. I am filled with a sense of dread. Loch Lomond is a distiller who are plainly not interested in the Single Malt … Continue reading
Caperdonich 19yo, Lady of the Glen, 54%
A demolished distillery and a small unknown bottler. Lady of the Glen is bottled by Hannah Whisky Merchants, run by one Gregor Hannah, from Inverkeithing, Fife. Caperdonich? Gone and remembered. Though … Continue reading
Happy International Whisky Day, Strathisla 1957/2007 G&M 43%
It is International Whisky Day, this 27th March, which commemorates Michael Jackson in true charitable fashion. As opposed to the other World Whisky Day which is a commercial affair. So … Continue reading
Ardbeg 10yo circa 1960s, 80 proof
Yes this is a rather old 10 year old, from about the 60s, before Ardbeg started using the distinctive stylized A in Ardbeg. That means this whisky has been in glass … Continue reading
Old Ballantruan 10yo ~2013, 50%
Old Ballantruan is neither ‘old’ in the sense of being established, nor is it from Ballantruan distillery. It is the peated version of Tomintoul aka ‘the gentle dram’, and the … Continue reading
Glen Garioch 14yo 2000/2014, cask 424 distillery special, 59.7%
Glen Garioch (confusingly pronounced Gee-ree) often springs to mind whenever someone asks for the most underrated distillery I know of. I have tried several from various vintages and liked them … Continue reading
Redbreast 15yo 46%
The Redbreast range of Irish Whiskey are ‘pure pot still’ whiskies, meaning a mixture of malted and unmalted barley is mashed, and the resulting wash is then distilled in pot … Continue reading
Ardbeg Ardbog (2013) 52.1%
This would be my third entry on Ardbeg, so I’ll skip the talk on the ownership periods and the different nuances of those periods which has earned this illustrious distillery … Continue reading
Inchgower 29 yo 1982/2011 Berry Bros 54.5%
Unknown, unloved and invisible Inchgower. Do we even know where it is? Who drinks this stuff? Lets check googlemaps – what?! Type in Inchgower distillery and it doesn’t even return … Continue reading
Dalmore 1986/2012, Mackillop’s Choice, cask 3099, 43%
Dalmore is not an unknown name in whisky, even for non whisky drinkers. After all its several entries in the ultra luxury market and all that marketing dollars does give it … Continue reading
Rosebank SMWS 25.65 ‘A Whispered Kiss’ 22 yo, 1991, 50%
Happy Lunar New Year! I should have saved the Sheep Dip I reviewed earlier for this post, it being the year of the Sheep/Goat and all but alas, I am … Continue reading
Glenmorangie 10yo ‘Original’
When I first learned that Glenmorangie was the best selling Single Malt in Scotland a few years ago, I was stunned. Why Glenmorangie? It’s a light almost delicate whisky that … Continue reading
Arran Machrie Moor 4th Release 46%
Arran distillery is located on the eponymous island sitting in the Firth of Clyde between the Kintyre peninsula, the southern end of which Springbank is found, and the west coast of … Continue reading
Old Pulteney 8yo G&M 40%
Old Pulteney used to be the northernmost distillery on mainland Scotland, though that honour now belongs to Wolfburn, it is still one of only a select few distinctive Northern Highland distilleries. … Continue reading
Tormore 23yo 1990/2013 Duncan Taylor Dimensions cask 1588 55.3%
Tormore was built in 1960 to meet original owners Long John International’s blending needs, so it is a young and large distillery who owes its eight stills to pure economics, no bones about … Continue reading
Rémy Martin Centaure Extra circa 1980s 40% / Valdespino Oloroso 20 yo ‘Solera 1842’ 20%
Right double tasting. Cognac first, an old one too. What curious treasures one find in forgotten corners of old cabinets. Right this is a Cognac, which means a twice distilled … Continue reading
Glengoyne Tasting by Malt Vault at The Connoisseur Divan
When this was announced, I jumped at the opportunity as I had never had a Glengoyne before (shame!) So firstly, thanks to Ben Curtis for putting this together and setting … Continue reading
Yoichi ‘Yoichi’ NAS OB, 43%
Yoichi’s core range consists of this NAS, the 10yo, 12yo, 15yo and the glorious 20yo. This entry level version even comes in 50cl, probably so it’s easier on salarymen sitting … Continue reading
Glenkinchie 12yo circa 2009
A half hour’s drive to the south-east of Edinburgh will bring you to the Glenkinchie Distillery. For most, this is probably a familiar name due to its inclusion of the … Continue reading
Littlemill 22yo, 1990/2012, The Whisky Agency, 52.2%
The last post on Littlemill had quite a bit of information on the distillery, none of which bears repeating here, except a reminder that Littlemill’s stills were a little strange: … Continue reading
Macallan 1988/2009 Carn Mor Vintage Collection cask 9171
The last time I reviewed a Macallan I failed to include a picture of the famously small dumpy stills: You can’t tell from the picture, but the stills are not … Continue reading
Macduff 21yo, 1992/2013, Old Particular, DL9905, 41.9%
Here known as Macduff, this same distillery is also known as Glen Deveron (its original name) and bears that name for the purposes of its travel retail bottles. Neither is … Continue reading
The Lost Distillery Company, Stratheden Blended Malt, 46%
First things first: Happy New Year! I had resolved to taste more & post more this 2015, but look it’s already the 3rd and not one post since Christmas. Very … Continue reading
Merry Christmas and Cobra Whisky / Glenfiddich 30 yo
Having a flu at Christmastime is no fun – every drink smells of acetone. Still, festive cheer is always a reason to celebrate and if the Christmas spirit doesn’t warm … Continue reading
Midleton 1998, Ref 386, 59.7%
This gem, and it is a gem, is available at La Maison du Whisky. I tried it at Whiskylive and knew immediately I had to keep a portion for further … Continue reading
Linkwood SMWS 39.92 1990/2014 49.5%
Here’s another distillery that you and I would not have easy access to but for the independent bottlers and their aged stock. In truth there’s a lot of it around … Continue reading
Tomatin 14 yo 1987 Carn Mor, cask 494
I’ve not had a naked (read ex-bourbon) young-ish Tomatin before, but it’s great if like me, you love to get a hint of the distillery character without sherry or wood … Continue reading
Glen Moray SMWS 35.112 17yo 1996/2014 52.5%
This is a Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling. In order to hide the distillery, a code number is assigned, but a simple google search will reveal the related distillery. In … Continue reading
Laphroaig 25 yo, 2014 Cask Strength
Some pictures this time: Laphroaig 25 yo, 2014 Cask Strength 45.1% (Official photo) Nose: Time has tamed the beast. Trademark seaweed and iodine are still there but much softer, likewise … Continue reading
Benrinnes, 23 yo, OB Special Release 2009
Yes this is the 2009, the 2014 was just released! Now’s the time to have a go at this one. Benrinnes is a little different. As we know most modern … Continue reading
Sheep Dip Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 40%
To begin with, Sheep Dip is an insecticide/fungicide solution used to treat sheep. The Spencerfield Spirit company either does not have a large marketing budget, or the guy in charge … Continue reading
Port Morant 1975, 32 yo, Guyana Single Rum, Rendsburger, 56.9%
Feeling Whisky is getting overpriced? Fear not, premium rum is still largely undiscovered. Previously we had a Rhum Agricole from Berry Brothers, that is to say a rum distilled from … Continue reading
Jameson Gold Reserve
Irish whiskey! Ubiquitous Jameson Irish Whiskey is a cornerstone nonetheless, like Jack Daniels to Tennessee Whiskey, but you’ll never guess, Mr Jameson was himself a Scotsman. In any case, the … Continue reading
Highland Park 18yo, 43%
Highland Park is undoubtedly a renowned star in the whisky world, whose historical success relied on quality and marketing in that particular order. It’s fame started long ago: In the distillery … Continue reading
Lochside, 1981/2010, G&M cask 762, refill sherry hogshead.
Lochside was a distillery in the Eastern Highlands, some 22 km North East of Dundee. It’s a sad patch of North East Scotland as far as distilleries go: Hillside, North … Continue reading
Bunnahabhain 35yo, 1973/2008, The Whisky Agency edition 01/2009, 50.1%
Of all the Islay distilleries, Bunnahabhain is least well served by road. As I made the 25 minute northward drive from Caol Ila, I could not help but wonder at … Continue reading
Kininvie, 17 yo, 1996, Batch 1, 42.6%
Kininvie has got novelty value, just 2 Single Malt distillery bottlings under it’s own name. It was bottled under the Hazelwood name previously. The story of this young distillery is … Continue reading
Strathmill Carn Mor 1990/2009 cask 2400 46%
Strathmill is another blending workhorse, supplying Diageo blends, including famously J&B, with it’s 1.7 million litres a year output. from http://www.scotchwhisky.net Trawling about the internet, one finds very little of … Continue reading
Cragganmore, Friends of the Classic Malts 2013 bottling, 48%
Cragganmore circa August 2014 Not an obscure distillery – it’s original spot on the Classic Malts lineup as the Speysider should indicate <if nothing else!> the conviction Diageo has … Continue reading
Glen Grant 170th Anniversary, 46%
Back from Scotland and Whiskyrific is back on-line. These last 2 weeks, I’ve learnt that fog is to Wick what fleas are to sheep and Orkney is so windy, wind … Continue reading
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