Glenfarclas – 2003 – Nickolls & Perks Exclusive Selection Cask #1448 – 57.5%
Special release of Glenfarclas Family Cask, produced to celebrate Nickolls & Perks 215th Trading Anniversary.
Rusty orange gold in colour.
Gentle nutty wood on the nose; subtle sherry wood notes with spiced jellied winter fruits and hessian sacks. For a cask strength this has a remarkably smooth set of aromas.
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When Oban Distillery celebrated its bi-centenary in the 1990s it gifted a hogshead – 250 litres – of whisky to the local RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) station.
The spirit was left to mature in a darkened warehouse for eighteen years, earmarked for a fundraising venture to mark the lifeboat station’s 40th anniversary last year.
Distell buys top Scotch whisky producer, Burn Stewart Distillers
The Distell Group, Africa’s leading spirits, wines and ready-to-drinks business has acquired top-performing producer of Scotch whiskies, Burn Stewart Distillers Limited, for just over R2,2 billion (£160 million) from the Scottish based CL World Brands Limited and Trinidad and Tobago based Angostura Limited, owners of Hine Cognac and Angostura Bitters respectively amongst other global brands.
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Let’s start off by saying… yes, I know some of the reviews on the blog here are of whiskies that are totally unaffordable for most people, myself included (I just get samples to try). So here’s a review of a whisky that’s affordable, and good! Shocker eh.
Ledaig – 1993 (17yo) – Connoisseurs Choice – 43%
Refill sherry, giving a light golden colour.
Nose is fairly light, maybe a little closed, but there’s sweet light peat smoke notes with winter fruits and malt, a nice gentle start to what is often quite a beefy smoke monster. There’s a nicely sherried background that seems well integrated to the soft peat.
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The world-famous Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye has opened its doors to its spectacular new visitor centre following a £1million redevelopment.
Distillery manager Mark Lochhead officially opened the new centre in time for the Easter tourist season following a major revamp and expansion of the distillery’s visitor facilities.
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The Antiquary 21 Year Old – (Tomatin) – 43%
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2013 – 93/100
This is an exclusive blend which combines fine Speyside and Highland malt with a splash of Islay and the fragrance of Lowland grains to create a truly exceptional whisky. All the whiskies used in this blend are at least 21 years old – and together they deliver a taste of unrivalled sophistication.
Official tasting notes are…
Nose – Fresh and invigorating, very malty sweet treacle toffee with hints of bitter orange and lemon.
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Glengoyne 21 Year Old – 43%
Dark rich golden colour.
Nice sherry nose, deep, winter fruits; classy.
Fairly full mouthfeel, oily, rounded, warming but not a power that is harsh, it’s smooth and enjoyable, slightly spicy towards the back of the palate.
The finish is long and warming, full of fruit, Christmas cake and oaky wood, with a refreshing eucalyptus note running through.
I see some people suggesting the 17yo is better, I’ve not had it so can’t compare, but certainly for me this is a great sherry monster which is a top dram. 90.
Sample from a friend (Dave, Tom’s brother) of Tom’s Whisky Reviews. £79.20.
Tomatin Distillery is celebrating winning in two categories at the World Whiskies Awards 2013. The Tomatin 12 Year Old won the Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under category, while the Tomatin 18 Year Old won the Highland Single Malt 13 to 20 Years category.
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Ballantine’s, the No.2 ultra-premium and Prestige Scotch whisky range in Asia-Pacific, has unveiled the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship Blend after exclusively bringing together Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and winner of the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship, Bernd Wiesberger, to create the sixth unique expression of the prestigious blend.
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Balblair 1990/23yo Islay Cask MoM Exclusive Cask 1466 – 50.40%
Light gold in colour, looks naturally presented to me. Initial nose is creamy smooth malt with peppery peat smoke notes which get stronger over time, and vanillay bourbon notes come through. A very enjoyable experience.
A oily mouth covering beauty, smooth at its abv but certainly some spices and pepper there, and lashings of smoke intertwining with the light sweet malty Balblair character. It’s Balblair for sure, but you know it’s made great friends with a drop of Islay in the cask.
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