Category Archives: Whisky

Review: Aberfeldy 21 Year Old

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aberfeldy-21-year-old-whiskyAberfeldy 21 Year Old – 40% ABV

Info: This is the slightly older bottling; since I got this there has been a packaging update, but the liquid reviewed is the same stuff. This bottling was heralded as the Best Mainland Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2007.
Colour: A medium dark amber, kind of caramelly.
Nose: A slightly heathery floral note, honied (honeycombe), wisps of smoke, slight orange marmalade tones.
Palate: Smooth, a little thin, easy going. The puffs of smoke are still there among the honey, vanilla and slightly spiced caramelised oranges.
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News & Review: Maverick Drinks’ Reference Series additions

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The World’s First Educational Range of Whisky Just Got Bigger

So, last month saw Maverick Drinks update their Reference Series with 9 of the latest additions. There’s a quick review of four of those releases below, but first let’s look at the official PR blurb…

Maverick Drinks is proud to announce the release of 9 additions to the world’s first educational whisky range, Reference Series. The range of blended malt whiskies was first launched earlier this year, and showcases the effects of various production techniques and ingredients used to make Scotch.
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Review: Highland Journey – Hunter Laing

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HighlandJourneyBottleHighland Journey – Hunter Laing & Co – 46.2% abv

Info: Hunter Laing’s first blended malt. Inspired by Stewart Laing’s first visits to the Highlands as a child with his father, Highland Journey is composed of malts distilled exclusively in the Highlands region. Bottled at 46.2%, each small batch bottling contains whiskies matured in bourbon and sherry casks.

Nose: A nose full of flavours. Packed with caramel, vanilla fudge and cream. Light fruits and a few nuts. Youngish malt notes from younger spirit that’s probably in the mix.

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News & Review: Isle Of Arran Machrie Moor (5th edition)

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Arran logoFor my review of the new Cask Strength Machrie Moor, please see below… but first, let’s catch up on the PR info…

MachrieMoor5thOBArran Distillers is launching the latest in its Machrie Moor peated whisky collection, which includes the first ever cask strength version of the limited edition Single Malt.

The Machrie Moor Single Malt first appeared five years ago, inspired by the legend of a warrior giant who tethered his dog to a stone in a mystical peat bog called Machrie Moor which lies on the west coast of the Isle of Arran.

This September the fifth edition of Machrie Moor – the only peated Arran malt – will be released worldwide, alongside a cask strength edition which has been bottled at 58.4%. Both single malts are limited edition and highly anticipated because of their unique flavour.

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News & Review: 3 Wemyss Malts Sept releases (’97 Clynelish, ’89 Glen Garioch, ’82 Caol Ila)

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It’s that time of the year that Wemyss release their latest batch of whiskies, always good!

Find below the details of the various single cask bottlings release… and read on for a review of three of them… “Cayenne Cocoa Bean” – 1997 single cask from Clynelish, Highlands, “Peaches and Cream” – 1989 single cask from Glen Garioch, Highlands and “Smoke on the Water” – 1982 single cask from Caol Ila, Islay.

Wemyss Single Casks Cropped Group Sept 14 low

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Review: 7 Mackmyra Whiskies

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Mackmyra_litenThe lovely folk at Mackmyra sent me over a bumper load of seven samples to have a look at, so it’s about time I got on with it (I’ve been a bit slow, sorry guys!).

First a little bit about Mackmyra…
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How did it start? Eight friends met up at a mountain lodge in the spring of 1998. Each had taken along a bottle of malt whisky for the host; the topic of conversation was obvious. How do you make whisky? And why isn’t there a Swedish one? The question led them to start exploring the possibilities of making their own Swedish whisky.

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Multi Review: Five Glen Garioch Whiskies

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GariochLogoYou might remember earlier in the year I was lucky enough to be invited up to visit Glen Garioch… It was a fantastic trip and really helped shine a light onto what is an excellent big bold drop of drammage. To read about the trip go here.

It’s about time I now reviewed some of their official range, so I’m going to take a look at their entry level dram, Founders Reserve, their 12y0, their new release – Renaissance (Chapter 1) 15yo and two of their vintage releases, the 1998 Wine Cask, and their 1995.

So without further ado let’s take get reviewing…

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Review: Three of New Zealand Whisky’s Collection

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Update: I’ve added a bonus fourth review, their newly release 25yo!

The New Zealand Whisky Company may not be that well known in the UK, but they’re keen to get to know us!

In 1997 the Willowbank Distillery on New Zealand’s South Island – the last whisky distillery in New Zealand – was closed down and its hundreds of filled casks were auctioned off or mothballed. In 2010, The New Zealand Whisky Company bought the last 80,000 litres (443 barrels) which had until then been stored in an old airplane hangar. The whisky now resides in the towering seaside bonds store in Oamaru. These are exceptionally rare drams from what was once the world’s southernmost distillery.

Let’s take a look at three whiskies from the Collection…

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Review: Glenfiddich’s Core Range (12yo, 15yo & 18yo)

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Glenfiddich’s core range reviewed (12yo, 15yo & 18yo)

A while back someone mentioned to me that I should review more core ranges, including whiskies from my own stock and not just PR samples that are sent to me for review. Well here’s one such review… Glenfiddich. Very well known, and easily available via supermarkets at good prices. A whisky that many malt whisky drinkers will have tried from time to time, or maybe even started their malt journey with.

Let’s take a look at the main three expressions from their standard range…

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