Johnnie Walker has unveiled the latest exciting blend from its Trade Routes Series: The Gold Route. The Gold Route takes inspiration from the journeys made by the Walker family and their agents – from Central America through the Andean mountains, passing the Inca pyramids and along the coast of the Pacific Ocean – where they witnessed magnificent scenery and diverse cultures whilst in pursuit of new businesses and rich experiences.
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Category Archives: Whisky
Review: Glen Garioch – Whisky Shop Exclusive – 2002
Price, ABV and age unknown at time of review, however assuming around 10yo. And I’m afraid that even a month on from initial review write up there’s no pictures or any other information. Anyway here’s the info… Continue reading
Review & Comparison: Talisker Storm vs Talisker 10yo
Talisker Storm – NAS – 45.8%
(NAS = No Age Statement)
Light golden in colour, a touch of E150a so I’m told.
The smell is sweet and sour, peat and smoke, with dry grassy/mossy undertones and lashings of vanilla.
The mouthfeel is medium to light oils, and surprisingly smooth especially considering there’s probably some younger whisky here, and a reasonable abv, which is great to see. This does seem a little more Islay in style, but not quite so costal or iodiney maybe.
The finish is really fairly long with sweet woody notes coming through.
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News: Kilchoman Announce New Loch Gorm Release
Kilchoman announce that the launch of an entirely new range called Loch Gorm is due on the 8th of April! Named after a famously peaty loch at the end of the Kilchoman drive, Loch Gorm will be the only fully ex-sherry cask matured release from Kilchoman. Loch Gorm will be periodically re-released as a more mature version with each bottling differentiated by distillation and bottling years printed on the label.
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Review: Highland Park Loki
Highland Park Loki – OB – 15yo – 48.7%
(Sherry casks and heavily peated casks)
This is the second release in the Valhalla Collection series from Highland Park (previous was Thor last year).
Golden yellow in colour. Great nose, buttery and creamy, with tonnes of stewed summer and winter berry fruit notes along with costal aromas and a definite peaty smoke whiff.
The mouthfeel is light to medium oily, but full and mouth coating. Spices kick in straight away, a really big spicy dram is this big boy, it’s soon tempered a little however by sweet fruity malty notes with a good background of peat and lashings of smoke. Holding it on your tongue for a while allows you to get used to the spices and then wood notes happily come through.
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Blog: Five Independently Bottled Bunnahabhains Reviewed
Bunnahabhain
I’ve recently posted a mini series of five reviews of independently bottled Bunnahabhains, all of which have their own charm. Please see individual reviews for tasting notes.
The bottlings featured were:
21yo Oloroso Cask – The Maltman
23yo/1989 – The Rare Casks/Abbey Whisky
23yo/1989 – Master Of Malt
Bn1 – Elements of Islay
10yo – Adelphi
Review: Bunnahabhain 10yo – Adelphi
Bunnahabhain – 10yo/2000 – Adelphi – 59.8%
Dark gold to copper in colour leading you to prepare yourself for a nicely sherried dram, presumably from a first fill cask.
The nose has a strong spirity quality, this is over 10 years younger in age than others reviewed in this series. It’s beautifully fruity and strongly sherried with slight gingery notes and hits of smoke and a drop of citrus.
The mouth feel is medium thick with warming oils washing around your mouth. It’s the highest ABV in this series of reviews, but it’s still very smooth on way down, nice and fruity with a wee bit of a peat tickle right at the end of the finish. Continue reading
Review: Bunnahabhain / Bn1 – Elements of Islay
Elements of Islay – Bn1 – 55.7%
Colour: Golden.
The nose is salted buttery vanilla nuts (if such a thing existed) and peat, lashings of peat, smoke, iodine and more peat, good sweet Islay peat (similar to southern Islay style drams).
A good oily mouthfeel that covers your palate with spicy and peaty sweet malt. Slightly hot from the fairly high abv and possibly some younger whiskies, it’s hard to tell as this has no age statement. The tcp notes are nicely evident. Continue reading
Review: Bunnahabhain 21yo Oloroso Cask – The Maltman
Bunnahabhain 21yo Oloroso Cask – The Maltman / Meadowside Blending Co – 49.5%
Golden in colour.
An unpeated glorious nose on this Islay drop of beauty. Salt hits your nose at first followed by gentle fruits and malt. By the colour and nose it would seem like a second fill sherry cask which has added a little depth over the normal bourbon matured Bunnas.
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Review: Bunnahabhain 23yo/1989 – Master Of Malt
Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old – MoM – 46%.
Light straw in colour.
A light vanilla nose with malt and wisps of smoke leading to light summer citrus fruits – this is unpeated (as are most Bunnas).
The abv works well here, a wee bit of a spicy sweet kick. A fairly full oily mouthfeel allowing the sweet summer fruits to come through. The finish is warming, sweet and long with faint smoke wisps returning on the finish.
A great middle aged island dram presented without the usual Islay peat that you’ll most certainly enjoy.
Sample provided by Master Of Malt – £74.95
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