Closed Scotch Malt Whisky Distilleries

All whiskies are rare, but some whiskies are rarer than others

– The Whiskyphiles

Many haven’t fathomed it yet but we are living in an Orwellian nightmare. Strong words I know, and I am sure much stronger have been uttered already at the current no age statement trend. A signal perhaps that the days of plucking your favourite 10 or 12 year old single malt scotch whisky off of the shelf may be numbered. The industry is attempting to engage with consumers by having ever more frequent ‘new releases’, invariably flavour-led NAS expressions, occasionally peppered with exorbitant vintage or single casks discovered ‘languishing’ at the back of a warehouse somewhere. The focus is on new; new flavours, new experiences, and not on the reproducibility of expertly marrying casks together to produce indistinguishable batches of classic, stable, age statement expressions. It is true however that every whisky is only around until it is gone. Some may be replicated or re-attempted or even released as specific batches, however this is only the case if your distillery remains operative, or in some cases, has enough stocks to cover occasional lengthy silent periods. So we come to the rarest of the rare, whisky from closed distilleries!

The number of closed distilleries is only going to increase! The reasons for closure can be numerous and varied with the biggest mass closure period occurring following the turn of the 19th century. Two world wars were not particularly good for the whisky business, however the problems started much earlier. Decline in production quality is often blamed for many distilleries demise, such that the effects of the First Wold War 1914-1918 simply sped-up the demise of many. Campbeltown crashed and most distilleries closed in the 1920’s and ’30’s as a result*. During this period the industry experienced an over 50 year hiatus in construction of new single malt distilleries until Tullibardine was constructed in 1949. Of those that followed some of those had relatively short operational lives too.

*Including; Annandale (1924), Auchinblae (1930), Ballechin (1927), Hazelburn (1925), Lochindaal & Port Charlotte (1929), Parkmore & Towiemore (1931)

The latest ‘mass extinction’ of distilleries occurred in the early 1980’s as a result of over-production, or under-consumption depending upon how you view it. White spirits were gaining in popularity and scotch suffered as a result, blends were losing favour and single malts as a category was still in its relative infancy. The whisky loch grew as years of stock laid down in anticipation of requirements or growth were not being used, prices of bulk stock slumped and production was reduced. Eventually many distilleries were viewed as surplus to need and some had production heavily restricted or were mothballed and closed. Thus the whisky industry is often viewed as boom and bust. The latest round of closures however left behind some gems, plus other more questionable stuff. Many of these closures were due to ‘a surplus to requirement’ and hence distilleries with high operating or modernisation costs were targeted and conversely some distilleries in ‘good’ visitor locations were spared. Needless to say some of those lost or retained were not done so specifically upon the quality of the whisky they may have produced. However many of them have left us liquid by which we can attempt to make some assessment of them whilst stocks, or more likely affordability, allows.

Buyers beware however, many are espousing the theory that whisky from closed distilleries represent great investment opportunities with prices on the secondary (auction) market only going to rise. True for sought after distilleries like Port Ellen or Brora with rare stocks and high quality. For some of the more recent closures however stocks are still good (and often quality variable or even poor in some cases) and if anything the primary market is already inflating prices to the extent that at best they break even at auction, losing you money after commission fees etc. I suspect this trend to remain unchanged for ~ 5-10 years until these stocks are diminished or depleted. The good news though is that current releases from some closed distilleries are still affordable for drinking and more so for drinking one and storing away a second bottle for a rainy day. The conundrum then lies in owning bottles that may become valued to highly and give you second thoughts about opening it. Let the fun commence!

The most recent mass closure of distilleries is detailed below, with our tasting notes where we have had the opportunity to sample from them. Regardless of quality or style, there is a certain joy at being able to sample a piece of liquid history that will never be repeated again, so if you have the chance to try these then take your time and enjoy them!

1983

Banff

Founded in Speyside in 1863, mothballed in 1983 and demolished in the following years.

Brora

Built in 1819 as Clynelish, closed after the new Clynelish distillery opened in 1968 but re-opened due to necessity until mothballed in 1983 how it remains to this day.

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1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
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A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
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Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

Dallas Dhu

Built in 1898, economic pressure and an unreliable water supply forced Dallas Dhu to close in 1983, and its distilling license was withdrawn in 1992. Re-opened to the public in 1988 as a museum under Scotland’s Historic Buildings and Monument Directorate

Dallas Dhu 22 Years Old 1982 Vintage Collection – Hugely fruity and with a mass of creamy vanilla and coconut from the hogshead maturation. An experience to sample from this now closed distillery, still plenty going on in this whisky despite the delivery at 43%, great quality from Signatory. 85/100
Dallas Dhu 24 Years Old 1976 Old Malt Cask – Dallas Dhu 24 Years Old 1976 Old Malt Cask (50%, Douglas Laing, 630 Bottles, 2001) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Dallas Dhu Distillery [closed] Bottling: Douglas Laing; Old Malt Cask ABV: 50% Cost: ~ £150 at auction What they say: Distilled in October 1976 at the now closed Dallas Dhu distillery, this was aged […]

Glen Albyn

Established in 1846 on the banks of the River Ness, connected to Glen Mhor. Closed down 1983 and demolished 1986.

Glen Mhor

Established in 1892 on the banks of the River Ness. Closed down and demolished in 1983

Glenlochy

Established in 1898 in Fort William, closed in 1983 and redeveloped in 1991 for housing.

Glenugie

Established in 1831 near Peterhead, closed in 1983.

North Port

Established in 1830 near Montrose, closed and demolished in 1983.

Port Ellen

Established 1825, closed in 1983 when stills were removed, now part of the Port Ellen maltings complex.

St Magdalene / Linlithgow

St Magdalene Distillery

Established 1753 in the town of Linlithgow, closed in 1983 and converted into housing.

St Magdalene 24 Years Old 1982 Murray McDavid – St Magdalene 24 Years Old 1982 Mission Port Finished (58.3%, Murray McDavid, Port Finish, 446 Bottles, 2006) Single malt scotch whisky 58.3% ABV, ~€90 at auction Score: 85/100 What they say: A 1982 vintage whisky from closed St Magdalene (aka Linlithgow), distilled in the year before its closure. This was matured for a total of […]

1985

Convalmore

Established 1893 in Dufftown, closed and equipment removed in 1985, warehousing facility remains in use by William Grant & Sons.

Glenflagler

Established in 1965 in Airdrie, closed in 1985.

Glenesk

Established 1897 near Montrose, closed in 1985 and site is now a maltings.

Glenury

Established 1825 in Stonehaven, closed in 1985 and demolished.

Glenury Royal 1976 Connoiseurs Choice ~ 40% (Gordon & MacPhail) review to follow

Millburn

Built in 1805 near Inverness, closed in 1985 with rumoured unreliable water supply, converted into a motel and restaurant.

SMWS 87.4 – Millburn 15 Years Old 1983 87.4 (57.3%, SMWS, 1999) Category: Highland single malt scotch whisky Origin: Millburn Distillery [closed] Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 87.4 ABV: 57.3% Cost: £150 What they say: Distilled at Millburn Distillery in Inverness in December 1983 and matured for a full 15 years before bottling in September 1999 at […]

1992

Coleburn

Established in 1825 south of Elgin in Speyside, operations ceased in 1985. Currently owned by independent bottler Murray McDavid who are investigating re-establishing distilling on this site.

Littlemill

Littlemill-Distillery

Established in 1772 in Bowling to the west of Glasgow, closed in 1992 and final buildings lost to fire in 2005.

#BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting – Bushmills Tweet Tasting On the 17th June Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire hosted the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting event, during which we sampled the following four expressions from their standard line-up plus a bonus Distillery Exclusive expression! The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 […]
#FlightsOfFancy – #FlightsOfFancy (idiomatic) An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative. Put together your ultimate flight of 5 whisky (or whiskey) expressions into a structured or themed tasting, or just your top 5 favourite whiskies ever tasted or you wish […]
#FlightsOfFancy – Barry Bradford at The Whiskyphiles – OK so here goes my #FlightsOfFancy #1 Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 Years Old 1995 Sauternes ~ 52.6% (Wm Cadenhead) £55 Great distillery, sweet wine finish (yum), Indie bottler, single cask, cask strength, mid-to late teens maturation – yet perfectly palateable, sweet and refreshing at cask strength – one of those rare few whiskies that despite having before, I want […]
#FlightsOfFancy – The Whiskey Nut – OK, I’ll have a bash at my Flights of Fancy. All are fine drams in their own style and all have a story to tell. The story for me is often just as important as the taste – it certainly adds to the overall experience. In no particular order. #1. Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt […]
#WhiskyMetrics BaFLEd by Social Media – Our December 2016 Whisky Blog league table is in preparation and will be posted soon! For anyone not on our previous lists, please get in touch with your blog details! Thanks. 🙂 As always I’m sure it will provide entertaining reading, especially as I see more and more brands BaFLEd by social media i.e. sending free […]
#WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting – #WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting Organised by Whyte & Mackay and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire A celebratory tasting spread across Whyte & Mackay’s brands of Blended Scotch Whisky and some of the individual single malt scotch whiskies from their portfolio The lineup included: Whyte & Mackay Light (21.5%, OB, 2019) A lighter spirit drinker from Scotland, […]
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – Ian Buxton – 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
2014 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people […]
2015 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2015. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see […]
2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion – 2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion A few weeks back my good friend Tom at Tom’s whisky reviews enquired if I was free to join him and some others for a couple of whiskies over some discussion about whisky to be recorded and broadcast. Despite the number of whiskies Tom and I must consume it is criminally […]
A beginner’s guide to whisky styles – A beginner’s guide to whisky styles
A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
Abbey Whisky Rare Casks Twitter Tasting – #abbeywhisky Twitter (or Tweet) Tasting took place on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm. Organised by Steve Rush at The Whisky Wire and Mike Sharples from Abbey Whisky we received 4 black wax sealed 3cl miniature bottles of whisky samples for the evening. I was already excited enough to be taking part as well as tasting […]
Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

Lochside

Established in 1957 in a former brewery in Montrose, closed after takeover by Allied Domecq in 1992, warehousing closed 1997 and demolished 2006.

#BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting – Bushmills Tweet Tasting On the 17th June Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire hosted the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting event, during which we sampled the following four expressions from their standard line-up plus a bonus Distillery Exclusive expression! The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 […]
#FlightsOfFancy – #FlightsOfFancy (idiomatic) An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative. Put together your ultimate flight of 5 whisky (or whiskey) expressions into a structured or themed tasting, or just your top 5 favourite whiskies ever tasted or you wish […]
#FlightsOfFancy – Barry Bradford at The Whiskyphiles – OK so here goes my #FlightsOfFancy #1 Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 Years Old 1995 Sauternes ~ 52.6% (Wm Cadenhead) £55 Great distillery, sweet wine finish (yum), Indie bottler, single cask, cask strength, mid-to late teens maturation – yet perfectly palateable, sweet and refreshing at cask strength – one of those rare few whiskies that despite having before, I want […]
#FlightsOfFancy – The Whiskey Nut – OK, I’ll have a bash at my Flights of Fancy. All are fine drams in their own style and all have a story to tell. The story for me is often just as important as the taste – it certainly adds to the overall experience. In no particular order. #1. Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt […]
#WhiskyMetrics BaFLEd by Social Media – Our December 2016 Whisky Blog league table is in preparation and will be posted soon! For anyone not on our previous lists, please get in touch with your blog details! Thanks. 🙂 As always I’m sure it will provide entertaining reading, especially as I see more and more brands BaFLEd by social media i.e. sending free […]
#WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting – #WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting Organised by Whyte & Mackay and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire A celebratory tasting spread across Whyte & Mackay’s brands of Blended Scotch Whisky and some of the individual single malt scotch whiskies from their portfolio The lineup included: Whyte & Mackay Light (21.5%, OB, 2019) A lighter spirit drinker from Scotland, […]
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – Ian Buxton – 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
2014 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people […]
2015 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2015. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see […]
2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion – 2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion A few weeks back my good friend Tom at Tom’s whisky reviews enquired if I was free to join him and some others for a couple of whiskies over some discussion about whisky to be recorded and broadcast. Despite the number of whiskies Tom and I must consume it is criminally […]
A beginner’s guide to whisky styles – A beginner’s guide to whisky styles
A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
Abbey Whisky Rare Casks Twitter Tasting – #abbeywhisky Twitter (or Tweet) Tasting took place on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm. Organised by Steve Rush at The Whisky Wire and Mike Sharples from Abbey Whisky we received 4 black wax sealed 3cl miniature bottles of whisky samples for the evening. I was already excited enough to be taking part as well as tasting […]
Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

1993

Pittyvaich

Established in 1974 by Arthur Bell & Sons, closed and demolished in 2002.

Sampled Pittyvaich 20 Year Old 1989 (2009 Special Releases) ~ 40% (Diageo)

Rosebank

Rosebank Distillery

Established 1840 in Falkirk, closed in 1993 allegedly due to cost of modernisation in order to meet effluent quality legislation

#BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting – Bushmills Tweet Tasting On the 17th June Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire hosted the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting event, during which we sampled the following four expressions from their standard line-up plus a bonus Distillery Exclusive expression! The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 […]
#FlightsOfFancy – #FlightsOfFancy (idiomatic) An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative. Put together your ultimate flight of 5 whisky (or whiskey) expressions into a structured or themed tasting, or just your top 5 favourite whiskies ever tasted or you wish […]
#FlightsOfFancy – Barry Bradford at The Whiskyphiles – OK so here goes my #FlightsOfFancy #1 Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 Years Old 1995 Sauternes ~ 52.6% (Wm Cadenhead) £55 Great distillery, sweet wine finish (yum), Indie bottler, single cask, cask strength, mid-to late teens maturation – yet perfectly palateable, sweet and refreshing at cask strength – one of those rare few whiskies that despite having before, I want […]
#FlightsOfFancy – The Whiskey Nut – OK, I’ll have a bash at my Flights of Fancy. All are fine drams in their own style and all have a story to tell. The story for me is often just as important as the taste – it certainly adds to the overall experience. In no particular order. #1. Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt […]
#WhiskyMetrics BaFLEd by Social Media – Our December 2016 Whisky Blog league table is in preparation and will be posted soon! For anyone not on our previous lists, please get in touch with your blog details! Thanks. 🙂 As always I’m sure it will provide entertaining reading, especially as I see more and more brands BaFLEd by social media i.e. sending free […]
#WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting – #WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting Organised by Whyte & Mackay and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire A celebratory tasting spread across Whyte & Mackay’s brands of Blended Scotch Whisky and some of the individual single malt scotch whiskies from their portfolio The lineup included: Whyte & Mackay Light (21.5%, OB, 2019) A lighter spirit drinker from Scotland, […]
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – Ian Buxton – 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
2014 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people […]
2015 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2015. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see […]
2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion – 2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion A few weeks back my good friend Tom at Tom’s whisky reviews enquired if I was free to join him and some others for a couple of whiskies over some discussion about whisky to be recorded and broadcast. Despite the number of whiskies Tom and I must consume it is criminally […]
A beginner’s guide to whisky styles – A beginner’s guide to whisky styles
A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
Abbey Whisky Rare Casks Twitter Tasting – #abbeywhisky Twitter (or Tweet) Tasting took place on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm. Organised by Steve Rush at The Whisky Wire and Mike Sharples from Abbey Whisky we received 4 black wax sealed 3cl miniature bottles of whisky samples for the evening. I was already excited enough to be taking part as well as tasting […]
Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

1998

Imperial

Imperial Distillery

Established in 1897 in Speyside, operated sporadically until 1998 and demolished in 2013 for site redevelopment into Dalmunach distillery by owners Chivas Brothers.

#BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting – Bushmills Tweet Tasting On the 17th June Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire hosted the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting event, during which we sampled the following four expressions from their standard line-up plus a bonus Distillery Exclusive expression! The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 […]
#FlightsOfFancy – #FlightsOfFancy (idiomatic) An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative. Put together your ultimate flight of 5 whisky (or whiskey) expressions into a structured or themed tasting, or just your top 5 favourite whiskies ever tasted or you wish […]
#FlightsOfFancy – Barry Bradford at The Whiskyphiles – OK so here goes my #FlightsOfFancy #1 Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 Years Old 1995 Sauternes ~ 52.6% (Wm Cadenhead) £55 Great distillery, sweet wine finish (yum), Indie bottler, single cask, cask strength, mid-to late teens maturation – yet perfectly palateable, sweet and refreshing at cask strength – one of those rare few whiskies that despite having before, I want […]
#FlightsOfFancy – The Whiskey Nut – OK, I’ll have a bash at my Flights of Fancy. All are fine drams in their own style and all have a story to tell. The story for me is often just as important as the taste – it certainly adds to the overall experience. In no particular order. #1. Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt […]
#WhiskyMetrics BaFLEd by Social Media – Our December 2016 Whisky Blog league table is in preparation and will be posted soon! For anyone not on our previous lists, please get in touch with your blog details! Thanks. 🙂 As always I’m sure it will provide entertaining reading, especially as I see more and more brands BaFLEd by social media i.e. sending free […]
#WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting – #WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting Organised by Whyte & Mackay and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire A celebratory tasting spread across Whyte & Mackay’s brands of Blended Scotch Whisky and some of the individual single malt scotch whiskies from their portfolio The lineup included: Whyte & Mackay Light (21.5%, OB, 2019) A lighter spirit drinker from Scotland, […]
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – Ian Buxton – 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
2014 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people […]
2015 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2015. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see […]
2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion – 2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion A few weeks back my good friend Tom at Tom’s whisky reviews enquired if I was free to join him and some others for a couple of whiskies over some discussion about whisky to be recorded and broadcast. Despite the number of whiskies Tom and I must consume it is criminally […]
A beginner’s guide to whisky styles – A beginner’s guide to whisky styles
A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
Abbey Whisky Rare Casks Twitter Tasting – #abbeywhisky Twitter (or Tweet) Tasting took place on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm. Organised by Steve Rush at The Whisky Wire and Mike Sharples from Abbey Whisky we received 4 black wax sealed 3cl miniature bottles of whisky samples for the evening. I was already excited enough to be taking part as well as tasting […]
Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

2002

Caperdonich

Established in 1898 as Glen Grant #2, operated for only 4 years, rebuilt in 1965, closed in 2001 and demolished 2010.

#BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting – Bushmills Tweet Tasting On the 17th June Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire hosted the #BushmillsWhiskey Tweet Tasting event, during which we sampled the following four expressions from their standard line-up plus a bonus Distillery Exclusive expression! The Old Bushmills Distillery is a distillery in Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The distillery is a popular tourist attraction, with around 120,000 […]
#FlightsOfFancy – #FlightsOfFancy (idiomatic) An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative. Put together your ultimate flight of 5 whisky (or whiskey) expressions into a structured or themed tasting, or just your top 5 favourite whiskies ever tasted or you wish […]
#FlightsOfFancy – Barry Bradford at The Whiskyphiles – OK so here goes my #FlightsOfFancy #1 Aberlour-Glenlivet 19 Years Old 1995 Sauternes ~ 52.6% (Wm Cadenhead) £55 Great distillery, sweet wine finish (yum), Indie bottler, single cask, cask strength, mid-to late teens maturation – yet perfectly palateable, sweet and refreshing at cask strength – one of those rare few whiskies that despite having before, I want […]
#FlightsOfFancy – The Whiskey Nut – OK, I’ll have a bash at my Flights of Fancy. All are fine drams in their own style and all have a story to tell. The story for me is often just as important as the taste – it certainly adds to the overall experience. In no particular order. #1. Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt […]
#WhiskyMetrics BaFLEd by Social Media – Our December 2016 Whisky Blog league table is in preparation and will be posted soon! For anyone not on our previous lists, please get in touch with your blog details! Thanks. 🙂 As always I’m sure it will provide entertaining reading, especially as I see more and more brands BaFLEd by social media i.e. sending free […]
#WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting – #WhyteChristmas Twitter Tasting Organised by Whyte & Mackay and hosted by Steve Rush @thewhiskywire A celebratory tasting spread across Whyte & Mackay’s brands of Blended Scotch Whisky and some of the individual single malt scotch whiskies from their portfolio The lineup included: Whyte & Mackay Light (21.5%, OB, 2019) A lighter spirit drinker from Scotland, […]
101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die – Ian Buxton – 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die is a whisky guide with a difference. It is not an awards list. It is not a list of the 101 ‘best’ whiskies in the world in the opinion of a self-appointed whisky guru. It is simply a guide to the 101 whiskies that enthusiasts must seek out and try in order to complete their whisky education.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon – Some depth and well-balanced, reveals a little more complexity and not as sweet as some Bourbons. 84/100
2014 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 65,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people […]
2015 in review – The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 110,000 times in 2015. If it were an exhibit at the Louvre Museum, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see […]
2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion – 2016 Whisky Roundtable Discussion A few weeks back my good friend Tom at Tom’s whisky reviews enquired if I was free to join him and some others for a couple of whiskies over some discussion about whisky to be recorded and broadcast. Despite the number of whiskies Tom and I must consume it is criminally […]
A beginner’s guide to whisky styles – A beginner’s guide to whisky styles
A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 – A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100
A Fine Christmas Malt 2020 – Easy drinking blended malt, mostly liquid toffee apples but also some spice, dried fruit and nut mix which resembles festive fruit cakes. 83/100
Abbey Whisky Rare Casks Twitter Tasting – #abbeywhisky Twitter (or Tweet) Tasting took place on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm. Organised by Steve Rush at The Whisky Wire and Mike Sharples from Abbey Whisky we received 4 black wax sealed 3cl miniature bottles of whisky samples for the evening. I was already excited enough to be taking part as well as tasting […]
Aber Falls 2nd Release – Smooth and surprisingly complex (written without prior knowledge of the cask make-up here) suggesting an interesting cask mixture that is working really well and manages to avoid that young/forced (STR!) feeling. There is a good sweet herbality present here too which is very enjoyable. Well done! 83/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. 85/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – This whisky really is honey in a glass, it is quite hard to get away from those sweet honey notes. If you do you’ll find some well-incorporated fruits and substantial malt. Delicious! 84/100
Aberfeldy 12 Years Old – Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review & Chocolate Pairing: Deliciously honeyed dram rather quite simple appearing at first but actually quite complex. Tasting with dark chocolate highlighted honey and fruitier notes on nose and palate and accentuated the oak wood and gentle spices of the finish, I liked how the chocolate was drying but the whisky mouth-watering. 85/100
Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 Single Cask – Aberfeldy 14 Years Old 2005 whisky review: Another accomplished dram for a bourbon hogshead, a little of Aberfeldy’s honey-like nature shines through in this dram. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old – Smooth and oily, perhaps a touch over-spiced for my palate in places this is a dram full of subtleties that rewards spending some time with. 83/100
Aberfeldy 16 Years Old 2001 Single Cask – Sweet and spiced, powerful at CS and hides a lot of the more pleasant aspects so don’t be afraid to dilute with a little drop of water. 87/100
Aberfeldy 17 Years Old 1999 Single Cask – Awesome! An excellent example of Aberfeldy working well in an Oloroso sherry cask! 91/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old – Creamy with a good hint of citrus, still in that very relaxed/subtle Aberfeldy style, I think I was looking for more depth and something more to ruminate over in this dram which didn’t quite appear. 84/100
Aberfeldy 18 Years Old Cote Rotie – On the nose the French oak predominates an already sweet and fruity whisky. On the palate red berries add to that honey and vanilla and results in a real dessert-like whisky. More jammy than the 12 year old the official note of Eton Mess fits the bill here. Delightful. 86/100
Aberfeldy 20 Years Old 1994 Single Cask – A delicious single cask expression with a real toffee-d nature. Lots of nice woody and herbal spices in here like a good gingerbread or parkin cake mix with the treacle influence. 84/100
Aberfeldy 21 Years Old – Aberfeldy 21 year old is a perfect smooth and silky dram with wonderful flavours of creamy toffee and honey. While I enjoyed sampling this, I wasn’t really blown away by it. The sherry and smoke influences I have heard others describe in this dram didn’t really make an appearance to me. Sadly it is so silky and smooth it is almost forgettable. While that is an achievement in itself, I prefer drams that make their presence felt with a much bigger impact than this. Incredibly refined it is a pleasure to dram but again I find myself lacking the willpower to commit to wanting a whole bottle. We were also spoilt with much more characterful Aberfeldy expressions during our visit which made the 21yo pale in comparison. 85/100
Aberfeldy 25 Years Old 1993 Connoisseurs Choice – Aberfeldy 1993 Connoisseurs Choice whisky review: A beautifully sherried Aberfeldy, dry and leathery with plenty of dark fruits and chocolate, with water this opens up a lot more and just gets better. 88/100
Aberfeldy 26 Years Old 1988 Single Cask – Possibly one of the best drams we have tasted. There is a lot to be said about the ambiance and tasting of whisky in a traditional dunnage warehouse straight from the cask. Presumably this is how a lot of master blenders sample their stock and so I feel this really is the most accurate way of ascertaining the true character of the whisky. That said on a high of whisky geekery and information overload, this whisky was a well-received conclusion to our tour and was always going to go down well. Having conversed with others who have also had the chance to sample this cask it appears pretty unanimous that this is a superlative whisky from Aberfeldy. 93/100
Aberfeldy Distillery Visit – Every year we organise a group trip to the University of Edinburgh Outdoors Centre at Firbush Point on Loch Tay. Here we generally engage in various activities including hill-walking, canoeing, mountain biking, etc. A couple of years ago a couple of colleagues and I had been discussing whisky a few weeks prior to our trip […]
Aberlour 10 Years Old – Wow! for an entry level expression this has it all, beautiful apple-fresh speyside spirit and lashings of bourbon and sherry influences create a real complex toffee monster. This is permanently part of my collection, on my 3rd or 4th bottle and I intend to keep buying another as soon as the last one is finished. A perfect example from one of my favourite distilleries. 83/100
Aberlour 11 Years Old 2001 White Oak – This is more interesting and refined compared to the Aberlour 10 year old. I think I will cherish this one for now and look out for a similar cask maturation with a little more age. It is surprising how fruity the Aberlour distillate is as I had assumed much came from the sherry cask. This is a beautiful contrast to the 10 year old and a worthy part of my collection. Plus it is always nice to surprise friends with something they are likely not to have seen or tasted before. There is a good chance I will buy more of this. 69/100
Aberlour 12 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – Still drinking this big litre bottle. Saving myself for the Aberlour A’Bunadh next after hearing so much about it. This is a nice dram but sadly for me has all the rubbery musty oaky notes and doesn’t develop the full-on sherry fruit flavours from the 10 year old that I love. If you like your aged whisky a little wooden then this is a must for you as the oak is superbly balanced and not drying in the slightest. 75/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2000 Sherry Cask – A rich and deliciously sherried Aberlour, this hand-fill cask really proves the base filling underpinning Aberlour’s A’Bunadh expression. A perfect example of how their light apple & honey spirit character really can work with a dollop of sherry cask maturation (as most of their standard range also attest). It really is a joy to find unadultered whiskies like this that reminds me why I love this particular distillery and its whisky so much! Visiting Aberlour distillery was definitely a highlight of 2016 for me. 91/100
Aberlour 16 Years Old 2003 Distillery Reserve Collection – A little tannic and spicy at cask strength but water’s well. Throughout despite heavy sherry cask influence there was a constant note of fresh and waxed red apples, a superbly sherried Aberlour.
Aberlour 18 Years Old – Aberlour 18 Year Old whisky review: Much more dried fruit and sherry influence in the 18 year old expression as compared to the Aberlour Triple Cask I sampled in this little duet. Still quite fresh and zesty polish and pear drop distillate character and masses of apples join much of the sherry-derived darker fruits. 88/100
Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection – Aberlour 18 Years Old 1994 Vintage Collection (46%, Càrn Mòr, HH #4413, 720 Bottles, 2012) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Aberlour Distillery Bottling: Carn Mor (Morrison & Mackay) ABV: 46% Cost: £15 for 20cl Score: 85/100 What they say: An 18 year old Speyside whisky from Aberlour distillery. Bottled in 2012 by Carn […]
Aberlour 19 Years Old 1995 Wine Cask – I’m stuggling to think of a better combination of whisky and cask than this example. The beautiful soft sweetness of Aberlour’s honeyed apples in Sweet (vin liquoreux) White Bordeaux such as Sauternes giving a zesty sweetness and a little salt and spice to the caramel. Simply delicious, more apple-y than a bag of apples! 91/100
Aberlour 20 Years Old 1991 Craigleith – This is something I like to go to occasionally when I want something un-fussy and slightly contemplative. With the glut of other whisky to taste this has languished somewhat at the back of the whisky hutch, perhaps spending the time to review it properly will bring it back to my full-time attention. Then again it is too good to session drink, maybe I will eke it out for as long as I can and enjoy it when I’m feeling a bit thinky. After all everyone needs a favourite, I’m a little spoiled between Aberlour, Old Pulteney & Laphroaig right now – please come back again later… x 85/100
Aberlour 21 Years Old 1989 Authentic Collection – Pleasantly surprised that bottles of this were still available for sale and at such a great price. I am severely tempted to buy a bigger bottle of this as it is superb in its simplicity. 91/100
Aberlour 9 Years Old Batch 7 – Typical Aberlour, punchy fresh apples and pears, soft cereals and some woody oak, what more could you want? 83/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 45 – For me this is the Aberlour 10 Years Old at Cask Strength, being slightly younger, fresher spirit there is a little less depth in the A’Bunadh which was a little disappointing, however the ABV more than makes up for this. I was tempted to see if this opened up and revealed any deeper flavours with water but it was so smooth and enjoyable I drank it all far too quickly for this! For the price I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic cask strength whisky that is full of that sherried style that Aberlour do so well. I am sure before long that a full 70cl bottle will be making its way into my collection. 85/100
Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 49 – Another stonking batch from Aberlour, perhaps more biased towards the sweet side, this one may make your teeth hurt. Paired with the bittering influence of high percentage cocoa dark chocolate however helped temper this sweetness long enough to reveal some of the other fruity and nutty notes from the Aberlour spirit and sherry cask infuences. A dram for sweet-tooths! 85/100
Aberlour Batch 1 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) – This is very gentle for its strength with lots of sweet fruits and fresh green apple flavours with gently zingy spiciness. The distinctive apple-y Aberlour spirit really shines out of this cask strength bottling, this is a lot smoother and more refined then the A’Bunadh leading me to suspect that it is somewhat older though the age statements are not declared on TBWC bottlings. Based on this expression I suspect they are perhaps bottling very good quality single casks that display the particular Distilleries character in a slightly different setting perhaps to the usual distillery bottlings. In this example for instance the Sherry influence is not as full on as it can be in the stable Aberlour expressions. Regardless this was a very well received present and a damn fine dram. I hope to sample further TBWC bottlings soon… 87/100
Aberlour Triple Cask – Aberlour Triple Cask whisky review: A soft and gentle expression full of red apples, some cinnamon bubblegum and pear drops suggest youthfulness but also distillery character here too. Rather pleasing at this price, and an acceptable replacement for the 10 year old expression. 83/100
Abhainn Dearg 3 Years Old 2008 Cask Strength – Abhainn Dearg Cask Strength Whisky Review: Quite rough and ready this one. Young, spirity, and exuberant but not quite tamed by wood. Reduced it still revealed some odd flavours and tendencies, this really reminded me of agave spirit or mezcal rather than whisky. 66/100
Adelphi Private Reserve – Adelphi Private Reserve Blended Whisky (40%, Adelphi, 2016) Category: Blended scotch whisky Origin: Adelphi Distillery (blending house) Bottling: Adelphi ABV: 40% Cost: £20.95 Score: 77/100 What they say: This blended whisky was made at the Adelphi distillery, excitingly this new distillery will begin distilling their own whisky in 2013! This blend is made from 30% […]
Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge – Adrien Camut 6 Ans d’Age Calvados Pays d’Auge Calvados Review: Another deep and rich expression, plenty of oak wood but with an effervescent/mentholic nature, probably tannic/cask derived? balanced by plenty of rich fruits. 86/100
Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old – Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Years Old whisky review: A fairly complex construction leave classic Islay peat and maritime influence and me guessing at distillery character, I guess the point here is to focus on some of the great characteristics of Islay whisky that can make a powerful yet extremely drinkable dram and present them with age-statement and at wallet-friendly prices, well done TCoIWC. 85/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Land Cask whisky review: An interesting expression with potential, however this still feels a little rough around the edges and reminded me of some not so savoury HP expressions I have sampled in the past where the peat influence is too dry and over-dominant. For an entry-level (£20) supermarket whisky this carries a lot more flavours than most – vanilla this certainly isn’t! 81/100
Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask – Aerstone 10 Years Old Sea Cask whisky review: Preferred over the land cask expression, this one feels much more integrated and balanced, some great flavours developing here and also a promise of things to come – I’d love to see these grow into 12, 15 or 18 year old expressions! 82/100
Ailsa Bay 1.2 Sweet Smoke – I enjoyed this one much more than the first release. Remarkable similarity in my comments – Promises Islay but doesn’t have the weight/structure or malty backbone to deliver it. This expression has lots of sweet fruitiness to balance the dry peat smoke and is very reminiscent of many Islay malts – resulting in a very enjoyable dram – I wonder if WG&S are experimenting at making their own Islay style malt here in the absence of a distillery on the island?
Ailsa Bay Batch 1 – Well balanced, sweet and peaty (a lot like Kilchoman) but more approachable/accessible, there is not that depth of phenolic and salty Islay peat here as there can be in Kilchoman. This is a well manufactured malt and I really enjoyed drinking this one but a closer inspection reveals the youthfull cracks that have been covered by surreptitious peat usage. One to watch out for though as I suspect later batches of Ailsa Bay will build quality onto this solid base. 82/100
Akashi Blended Whisky – White Oak Akashi (40%, OB, 2014) Blended Japanese whisky 40% ABV, £33.69 for 50cl at Master of Malt Score: 82/100 What they say: White Oak Akashi or ‘White Oak land whiskey testimony’ (Blended)’ is produced by the Eigashima Shuzo Spirits Distillery. The company is a major manufacturer of Sake and Shochu and have held a […]
Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky – Alberta Premium 25 Years Old 100% Rye Whisky ~ 40% (Alberta Distillers, Beam/Suntory) 40% ABV, C$30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: This whiskey is made by Alberta Distillers in the heart of Canada’s rye-growing country – where cold barren winters give way to an abundant crop of the finest rye. Made by blending […]
Allt-á-Bhainne 1996 Connoisseurs Choice – Very good with Pumpkin Pie! 84/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1991 Cask Strength Collection (Signatory) – We assumed this was matured in a refill bourbon barrel as at 21 Years Old this whisky still had a lot of flavours and aromas that we associated with the distillery and thus the distillate itself. I would be interested to try further Allt-A-Bhainne expressions to determine how much of this whisky is composed of the signature malt distillate elements [though there was not a lot in here I could ascribe to barrel-maturation?]. On the palate there were some promising tropical fruit flavours indicative of the Speyside malts, sadly the finish on this one let it down a little. 72/100
Allt-á-Bhainne 21 Years Old 1992 Small Batch – Very enjoyable, went down well with the whole audience, that Kirsch and dark chocolate with sweet cereals was just perfect! 86/100
American Eagle 4 Years Old – Full bodied and full flavoured, very enjoyable for a 4 year old Bourbon and not overly sweet or corny. 80/100
Amrut Cask Strength – Amrut Cask Strength (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 46% Cost: £41.45 What they say: Amrut Single Malt Whisky According to Indian Mythology, when Gods and Rakshasas – the demons – churned the oceans using the mountain Meru as churner, a golden pot sprang out containing the Elixir […]
Amrut Naarangi – Amrut Naarangi (50%, OB, 2015) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 50% Cost: £sold out What they say: Amrut Naarangi Amrut Naarangi the latest offering from Amrut, the ‘Naarangi’ derives its name from the Hindi word, Naarangi which means “orange.” It is the only single malt whisky ever produced in […]
Amrut Portonova – Amrut Portonova (62.1%, OB, 2016) Category: Indian single malt whisky Origin: Amrut Distillery Bottling: Official ABV: 62.1% Cost: £84.97 What they say: More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into […]
An Evening With The Blenders 2017 at The Scotch Whisky Experience – Last night I attended the 20th annual #MeetThe Blenders or ‘An Evening With The Blenders’ as it is more formally known, hosted at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh. Every year some of the top and longest serving Blenders in the whisky industry gather for a week or so to sample their way through the entrants of […]
Anatomy of our whisky reviews – Our compound title is constructed from: Distillery or Whisky Name | Age and Vintage | Whisky Expression or Collection (ABV%, Bottler, Cask Details, Number of bottles, Year of bottling) In order to give the maximum information as concisely as possible and provide a unique identification Whisky Review: Common or official name of product Category: which […]
Anée Calvados Hors d’Age – Very enjoyable, quite light and easy to drink but with an interesting depth which suggests some real age in here. The tannic French oak and acidity is kept to a minimum and cinnamon spiced honeyed apples are the dominant flavor with such a delicate presentation. A lovely introduction to Calvados. 85/100
anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 – anCnoc #ModernTradition Tweet Tasting 01/04/2015 We were lucky enough to be invited to participate in the anCnoc #ModernTradition tweet tasting event held on 1st April 2015. During which we (re-)sampled the following expressions: anCnoc 12 Years Old ~ 40% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 2000 vintage ~ 46% (Inver House Distillers Ltd.) anCnoc 18 Years Old ~ […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – anCnoc 12 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 40% Cost: £33.34 What they say: anCnoc 12 Years Old The anCnoc 12 year old is renowned the world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it’s light and yet complex. […]
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A great all-round whisky that introduces you to anCnoc’s range, a lovely mid-weight floral, barley and honeyed fruit, in places more floral, sour and bitter slightly than we last remembered. 84/100
anCnoc 12 Years Old – A good & classic anCnoc expression, quite flavourful and rich even presented at 40% ABV with lots of dessert-led fruit and sweetness. 84/100
anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition – anCnoc 16 Years Old 125th Anniversary Edition Whisky Review: A little underwhelming, spicy with plenty of vanilla on the nose but doesn’t really translate into the palate. 80/100
anCnoc 18 Years Old – anCnoc 18 Years Old (46%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Official – Inver House Distillers Ltd. ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £79.30 What they say: The anCnoc 18 Year Old has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most […]
anCnoc 1975 vintage – anCnoc 1975 vintage (44.2%, OB, 1590 Bottles, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 44.2% ABV, £300 for 70cl Score: 90/100 What they say: Released in February 2015 this Limited Edition Single Malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly. Distinguished by its bronze tone, anCnoc 1975 Vintage is neither […]
anCnoc 1999 vintage – anCnoc 1999 vintage (46%, OB, 2013) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £51.43 What they say: Distilled 1999 anCnoc 1999 has been bottled in its most natural form – neither chill filtered nor coloured. As a result anCnoc 1999 may develop a light haze with the […]
anCnoc 2000 vintage – anCnoc 2000 vintage (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% ABV Cost: £55 for 70cl Score: 85/100 What they say: anCnoc Vintage 2000 has matured in Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels and has been bottled in its most natural form, neither […]
anCnoc 2001 vintage – anCnoc 2001 vintage (40%, OB, 2015) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu Distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £54.95 What they say: Distilled 2001 anCnoc Vintage 2001 has matured in Spanish and American oak casks and has been bottled in its most natural form neither chill-filtered nor coloured and as a result […]
anCnoc 2009 Vintage – A delightful vintage expression from anCnoc, full of their classic honey character. The Spanish oak has imparted some leather and chocolate notes too. A worthy addition to anCnoc’s fine vintage range. 84/100
anCnoc 22 Years Old – A spicier and slightly smoky dram, much more contemplative this one. Rich and with plenty of body, flavour and character, this really displays wonderful cask maturation on a light honeyed base spirit. A real indulgent pleasure! 86/100
anCnoc Blas – Spicy and challenging at full strength but hints at a good depth, for us this was interesting as presented but much more enjoyable when reduced with water. This takes water well so has the added bonus of stretching out your drinking pleasure (or bottle volume) through dilution. This is reminiscent of a beefed-up version of the anCnoc 12 Years Old expression which we regard quite highly already. The bottle and packaging also sport a very colourful design incorporating lots of elements associated with anCnoc and their whisky production – making this stand out on the shelves. 85/100
anCnoc Cutter – anCnoc Cutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: The latest expression from anCnoc’s collection of limited edition peated malts was unveiled in Edinburgh last night, as whisky enthusiasts gathered under cover of darkness to share a midnight dram of […]
anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 – anCnoc Masterclass Edinburgh 25/03/2015 On the evening of 25th March 2015 we were invited along to the anCnoc Masterclass held at Whigham’s Wine Cellars in Edinburgh’s West End. Joined by an eclectic group including a good portion of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog, The Whisky Boys, Whisky Corner and Jonathan Trew. Each of us were here […]
anCnoc Peatheart – anCnoc Peatheart (46%, OB, 2017) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House ABV: 46% Cost: £52.00 What they say: peatheart 40.0 ppm [parts per million] Throughout the Scottish uplands, most extensively in the north and west, you will find the heart of the peatlands. Remote and isolated yet rich in […]
anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 – Another great peated expression, less sweet and floral than the 12 year old but quite mealy and full of oak wood and fruit, wood char, peat smoke and coal-tar soap. 85/100
anCnoc Rutter – AnCnoc Rutter (46%, OB, 2014) Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Knockdhu distillery Bottling: Inver House (Official) ABV: 46% Cost: £50 What they say: Rutter 11.0 ppm [parts per million] The Rutter spade is used to size and separate the peat blocks producing a turf that is slow burning. This peat creates less reek […]
Annandale distillery –
Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 – Annandale Man O’ Words 2015 Bourbon Cask 528 Whisky Review: Really quite fresh compared to the new make spirit, predominantly fruit driven here with lemons and apples and also lots of vanillin and woody oak spices from the bourbon cask. Traces of barley malt persist in the finish. 84/100
Apogee XII 12 Years Old – Intense, some slightly vaporous and very spicy and tannic nature. Lacks a little structure and body for me and I needed a little water to tame the spice and tannins to make this enjoyable, personally I’m hoping this breathes a little in the bottle and calms down before I return to it. 83/100
Ardbeg 10 Years Old – Classic and well-loved single malt from Ardbeg – and for good reason. Many baulk at the price-tag for this entry-level 10 year old expression, but on tasting few go back and feel they’ve been overcharged. Subtly constructed and quite complex. 87/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old – Ardbeg 21 Years Old Category: Islay single malt scotch whisky Origin: Ardbeg Distillery Bottling: Luis Vuitton Moet Hennessy ABV: 46% Cost: £310.00 What they say: ARDBEG TWENTY ONE LAUNCHES TO CELEBRATE DISTILLERY’S MOST PERILOUS DAYS Ardbeg has announced that its latest Limited Edition whisky is a 21 year old single malt, distilled at one of […]
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1992 Single Cask 430 – Ardbeg’s peaty beast of a spirit has been truly tamed in this single cask expression. The Hogshead has worked masses of sweet and creamy vanilla into this whisky, however a slightly metallic tang remains that could have arisen in the original distillate? The result is hugely drinkable even though the peat influence is still prominent, it is smooth and approachable and I could easily drink a lot more of this if I had too (or if I had it!) 88/100
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 Authentic Collection – Minty, subtle peat as it has been tempered by a long maturation in a sadly very underactive cask – there are almost hints in here of freshly sawn wood and sawdust. 74/100
Ardbeg 31 Years Old 1974 Single Cask 4989 – Wow! An awesome single cask example revealing how massive bourbon ageing can really temper the Ardbeg peat levels down to almost indistinguishable amounts. This one tasted like it should have stuck to the sides of the glass like treacle! This really was an exceptional single cask whisky born out of the Allied Domeq period at Ardbeg this would have been made at ~ 50-60 ppm phenol, measured in the malted barley and may well have been filled into the cask at the ‘old’ Ardbeg vatting strength of 70% – whereas today their new make typically comes off the still at 67-68% ABV and all casks are filled at 63.5% ABV. So sadly the likes of this cask may never be repeated! 94/100
Ardbeg 33 Years Old 1975 Single Cask 1376 – Another beautiful single cask example from Ardbeg, full of fruity, tannic and leather qualities from a long ex-sherry butt maturation. This expression really highlighted just how superior the preceeding 1974 Bourbon cask matured expression was. Although in essence this Ardbeg would normally fit my flavour profile, I found it perhaps overly dark fruity with little chocolate or nut influences (so I suspected ex-Oloroso) cask and almost a little too much ageing, even so this scored extremely highly as it really was a supreme whisky. If I had the choice (and money!) I think I would have bought 2 of the 1974 cask bottles instead though! 93/100
Ardbeg Alligator – Still my favoured Ardbeg expression, a shame they didn’t decide to produce this ‘super-toasted oak’ version as their standard 12 Years Old expression! 93/100
Ardbeg Auriverdes – Not a classic Ardbeg peat-monster but actually quite subtle. Plenty of chocolate and possibly teetering on leaving my palate likes with a presentation of liquorice and aniseed towards the end (though I don’t seem to have specifically disliked this whisky for it). Classified as a strange beastie, not the least as despite it being released in 2014, this Ardbeg has bucked the current trend of being highly sought after by collectors and is still available one year later directly from Ardbeg’s shop at launch price!? This may well have fallen foul of the current trend of limited release Islay whiskies (where limited may mean any rather large number of thousands of bottles released – so actually not really that limited at all!). Anyway Dr Bill kinda sold this one to me at the tasting so I bought a bottle anyway. The low ABV may have convinced some people that this is constructed from much older (therefore greater loss to the Angel’s Share) casks, whereas Dr Bill. may have been telling us tongue-in-cheek that these were matured in a particularly ‘bad’ part of the warehouse that experiences higher than usual alcohol loss, hence low final ABV. Or perhaps they were just a little to generous in watering this one down during the bottling process – I guess we’ll never know? 84/100
Ardbeg Blasda – My overall opinion of Ardbeg’s “lightly-peated” expression was that it was composed of nothing in extremes. Not particularly impressive I likened this to the Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve in that it seems to be lacking something (peat!) and in so doing reveals a whole host of jarring, unappealing flavours that didn’t float my boat. If you fail to like Ardbeg because of the peat, this 8ppm expression is unlikely to win you over. 75/100
Ardbeg Bourbon Cask – Sadly not actually for sale, I really enjoyed this Ardbeg cask sample, the only drawback was the peat smoke on the nose had a slightly smoldering ash or dirty ashtray quality (more akin to Caol Ila peaty influence) though the palate and finish were sublime. If anything this sample was like a cask strength version of the ever-popular Ardbeg 10 Year Old expression. A very fine and solid dram with a more reserved mini-monster of peat influence, delicious. 84/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – This is certainly an experience, and can be a little hard work to drink as it has so many complex and strong elements. Overall it is a meaty, savoury dram with pepper spice. It has a certain quality like a raw nerve or open wound that you want to keep prodding into, even though you know it may hurt. Actually it’s not really that painful to drink, but incredibly complex and strangely you keep coming back for more. I love it! One for the masochists, whatever you do do not waste this one on those who claim they don’t like peaty whisky – it will just reinforce their dislike. I have a feeling I’ll be back for more however, when this bottle runs dry. 88/100
Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Similar flavour profile but I actually scored this expression higher by a few points. I initially found the Corryvreckan quite drying/tannic and challenging in my first review. Here it was sampled after both the Ardbeg 10 Years Old and Uigeadail expressions which may have nullified or equated my palate to the peat levels and allowed me to enjoy the more subtle flavour nuances in this expression – plus there are always aesthetics of sampling this in the company of its creator and understanding more of its construction. 91/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove – Slightly lighter in the palate than expected from the nose and colour, perhaps a little youthful and zesty in places, not as much sherry influence as say the Ardbeg Uigeadail expression. 84/100
Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Edition – Initially this seems a little more refined than the standard version at 46.5% ABV, with a much deeper and darker presentation of flavours. Despite this I found it impossible to choose a favourite between the two editions. 84/100

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Whisky New Releases 2017 Week 29 – The Whiskyphiles

July 25, 2017 at 12:02 pm

[…] This week we focus on Closed Scotch Malt Whisky Distilleries […]

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