Category Archives: Whisky

News & Review: Reference Series ‘The First Educational Whisky’

Posted on by

RefSeriesLogo

Reference Series – The First Educational Whisky

There’s a new funky experiment in town. I say new, it’s been out for a wee while, but I’m catching up, and for those that missed the initial announcement then this is a good follow up! It’s from those crazy people at… what… I have no idea which brand to pick… Master Of Malt / Drinks by the Dram / Blended Whisky Company / Maverick Drinks / That Boutique-y Whisky Company / Reference Series. More brands than you can shake a fist at… however you know who I mean I’m sure, basically that Ben chap.

Here’s the PR text which explains probably better than I can… Once you’ve read it, please find my tasting notes of the initial three releases at the bottom! 🙂
Continue reading →

Review: Ben Nevis 16yo – Abbey Whisky / The Rare Casks

Posted on by

Ben-Nevis-16-Year-Old-The-Rare-Casks-Release-3-250Ben Nevis 16yo – Abbey Whisky / The Rare Casks – 55%

“Distilled in 1997 and aged for 16 years in a single sherry hogshead, the whisky has been bottled at natural cask strength and only 96 bottles have been filled and made available.

The whisky has been bottled in its natural form, at full cask strength, 55% vol, without chill filtering or colour additives.”

Read on for my tasting notes…

Continue reading →

Blog: My drambassador’s trip to Glen Garioch

Posted on by
Reply

GariochLogoMy drambassador’s trip to Glen Garioch

Now, where do I start? I’m no article writer and my brain isn’t what it once was… So I reckon we’ll just walk through my packed couple of days and randomly jump from one bit to another, how does that sound? Good, I’m glad you agree. You’ll probably get bored reading mind you, but give it a go eh?

GariochDisty Continue reading →

Review: Glencadam 22yo – Abbey Whisky / The Rare Casks

Posted on by

glencadam-22-year-old-1991-the-rare-casks-release-4-250Glencadam 22yo – Abbey Whisky / The Rare Casks – 55.3%

Distilled in 1991 and aged in a refill bourbon cask for 22 years.

Having previously been mothballed, the distillery was brought back to life in 2003 and is the only existing distillery in the region of Angus.

“The dram possesses a distinct haze which hints at the true rustic character you would expect from a cask strength malt bottled in its truest natural form, without chill filtering or colour additives.”

Read on for my tasting notes…

Continue reading →

Review: The Arran Malt 17 Year Old

Posted on by

arrob_17yoThe Arran Malt 17 Year Old – 46% OB

Arran 17 Year Old is the last release in a trilogy counting down to the launch of the 18 year old in 2015.

The oldest official bottling from the distillery at the time of release. It’s made from un-peated malted barley and matured in the finest ex-sherry casks giving it a unique and distinctive flavour.

Colour: Full golden, fairly rich.

Continue reading →

News & Review: Lord Elcho – New Blended Scotch from Wemyss Malts

Posted on by

LordElchoLord Elcho – New NAS Blended Scotch from Wemyss Malts

(see update below…)

“Wemyss Malts is taking its second step into the world of Blended Scotch by adding a non-aged version of Lord Elcho to its range.

Lord Elcho 15yo was launched in 2012 and we are delighted to be adding another member of the family.

The nose on the new whisky is fresh and lively, with notes of fruit salad and fragrant wood shavings. The palate is full and soft, with waves of chewy caramel and a warm spiciness. Its finish is dry and long, with hints of crushed nuts.”

On to my quick wee review…

Continue reading →

Review: “Lemon Zest” Auchentoshan by Wemyss Malts

Posted on by

lemon-zest lowAuchentoshan – ‘Lemon Zest’ 1998/2013 (15yo) – Wemyss Malts – 46%

Wemyss released five new single casks in April ’14, for details head here. However, on to the review of another one of those releases…

Colour: Light straw, good and natural.

Nose: That Auchentoshan farminess (I have no better description!) I often find is here, but not too strongly. It’s malty, light and zesty, and a definite lemony hint.

Palate: A slight upfront spiciness, which then dies off to be more gentle at which point the lemony zesty thing comes through.

Continue reading →

Review: “The Bosun’s Dram” Bunnahabhain by Wemyss Malts

Posted on by

the-bosuns-dram lowBunnahabhain – ‘The Bosun’s Dram’ 1997/2013 (16yo) – Wemyss Malts – 46%

Wemyss released five new single casks in April ’14, for details head here. However, on to the review of one of those releases!

Colour: Full golden.

Nose: Earthy and slightly salty yet there’s a gentle peat smoke with malty hay tones.

Palate: Earthy salty peat! Pinch of spices and some crushed late summer berries.

Continue reading →

News: New Single Casks from Wemyss Malts

Posted on by

wemyss-malts-large

Wemyss Malts refreshes Single Cask line up

(Keep an eye on the blog for reviews of two of these releases coming very soon!)

Edinburgh based boutique Spirits Company Wemyss Malts is delighted to announce the release of a new parcel of single cask single malt Scotch whiskies.

Each cask is a celebration of the unique and contrasting appeals of the different Scotch whisky regions and the latest release covers three of the regions: from Islay, Highlands, and Lowlands.

group March 2014 low

Continue reading →

Buzz & Winning Review: Glen Garioch’s new (as yet nameless) expression

Posted on by

GariochLogoGlen Garioch’s new (as yet nameless) expression
(and the clues to what it might be…)

Update: I’m really pleased to announce that my post has been chosen as a winning review of this dram, and as such I get to go and visit the distillery, excellent stuff, lucky me!

Let’s start by saying I’m a Glen Garioch Drambassador! What’s that? It was a facebook competition run by them to chose various fans / bloggers to receive their new mystery dram and a set of clues, and to be the first people to try it and write about it… and that’s what leads us here! I am one of those chosen few… and sure enough in the post I soon received the following lovely box of goodies…

GlenGariochMysteryDram Continue reading →