A Highland distillery has unveiled its latest limited edition single malt – a smooth, velvety whisky finished in ruby port casks.
Badachro Distillery releases limited edition new port cask single malt whisky expression
Barry Bradford
About me? I am a Whisky Educator, Travel-Tourist and Blogger. I blog tasting notes about (mostly Scotch) beer and whisky at The Whiskyphiles. I keep progress of my travels via the Alfred Barnard Society. Based in Livingston, Scotland I do most of my dramming at the University of Edinburgh Water of Life Society and Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Jura Whisky extends Signature Series with 14 Year Old American Rye Cask
Jura Single Malt whisky is adding a ‘smooth and warming’ 14 Year Old American Rye Cask edition to its Signature Series, in celebration of Jura’s island community and the unbreakable bond between the islanders and the whiskies they produce.
Last of Littlemill Testament Special Edition auctioned for a five-figure sum in Singapore
Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery auctions the final bottle of its oldest liquid to date, Testament Special Edition, for S$35,000 (approx. £20,000) in Singapore
Westland American Oak
Oak heavy and perhaps a touch bourbon-esque in terms of wood influence with an added cereal depth from the malt. Ginger and orange predominate, a classic taste combination but with added complexity from both spirit and wood. Yes easily the equal of scotch single malt but with it’s own unique Westland or North-Pacific DNA very present here. 82/100
Black Bottle
Black Bottle offers a characterful blended scotch with good structure and strong flavours. A delight amongst insipid vanilla & lemon blends that let far to much youthful grain spirit shine. An easy equal to many a single malt and much more chewy and substantial than JW Black Label (for example). This has rapidly become my ‘go to’ Blended scotch. 83/100
Tullibardine 500
My favourite of the tasting – I guess no surprises there! I guess like the whole range I felt this was a bit safe and unchallenging. I’d prefer a bit more strength or depth to some of the finishing flavours – but perhaps that’s just my palate and predilections. The whole range is quite polished and well put together, meaning accessibility and joy for newcomers. Thankfully Tullibardine have extended their signature and other ranges greatly since these were released in 2013 and I guess I should be exploring these more myself. 83/100
Tullibardine 228
Revisiting the Tullibardine 228, albeit in it’s revised packaging I was slightly underwhelmed with this expression compared to my first experience. Perhaps it was due to following the sweetness of the 225? I didn’t feel this had quite as much of the red wine influence as tasted prior and my fear was whilst the overall quality of Tullibardine’s releases has been normalised and raised slightly it has dulled the extremes which made them fun and interesting. Maybe in a different line-up or pairing this one will shine differently? 79/100
Tullibardine 225
from Tullibardine’s spirit. This one seems quite light on the impact of the finishing cask and I found myself wishing it went a little further, the end result is a sweeter and fruitier dram with a touch more woody spices too. 81/100
Tullibardine Sovereign
Good texture and rounded with a good balance between fruit and oak wood before drier and spicier elements add interest. Perhaps a shade of spirit nature belies the youthfulness on the palate. 80/100
Domaine d’Aurensan 20 Ans
Woody but so drinkable, I hadn’t appreciated when sampling this that it wasn’t all 20 years old! Some soft floral notes but this is mostly wood and dried herbs and fruits with a generous nutty and chocolate component too, superb! 86/100
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