Category Archives: Whisky Reviews

Whisky Review – Arran 17 Year old

My previous experience with Arran whisky isn’t extensive – I did taste a few Arran whiskies in stores and even SMWS one (which I blogged here and I have heard lots of good things on other indie bottlings) and the quality is very good and improving with time, so when Arran 17 yo went on sale, I picked it and hoped it will be as good as expected.

Bear in mind that Arran distillery is young. It only celebrated 19 year old 1-2 months ago and as such it has a long way to go, catch our eyes and build up their reputation. so every release is important on this road. Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Chivas Regal 12 year old 40%

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Most of the whiskies I review on the blog are single malts but from time to time I ‘sin’ with blends. I usually try to stick to good blends and only occasionally I taste and report on standard/low-end blends to find which are unworthy for your consumption – no harm should reach my readers.

Last weekend I’ve been on vacation with the extended family and my brother in law brought a whisky bottle to the gathering, the Chivas Regal 12. It’s been a loooong time since I tasted it, so I told to myself, heck why not!

I won’t bother detailing here the whisky information. Really, if you need it, go Google it or just accept the fact that it’s quite famous, well spread and is on sale for a decent price.

I guess most of you tasted it before, but if not or if it’s been a while since you last tried it – is it any good? can single malt lovers enjoy it?

Chivas Regal 12 year old (40%, £27.5)

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Giveaway Winner Announcement and Whisky Review: Van Wees Laphroaig 1998 13 year old 60.1%

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It’s time to announce the winner in Whisky Gospel first birthday giveaway. As most of you guessed correctly, the answer to the question (big clue in the blog header picture 😉 ) – it’s Laphroaig! So the winner will get a Laphroaig 18yo bottle.

But just announcing a winner is boring, so bear with me for a little while more and let’s review a cracking Laphroaig bottle before announcing the winner (but you can scroll down to find the winner if you’re a bit impatient).

Having a close by friends who shares the love to the same distillery is a good thing. Take Michael (of Malt & Oak Blog) for example – he recently went on a trip to Europe and brought back a surprise – the Van Wees Laphroaig 1998 and I felt that a Laphroaig dram is the fitting choice to review for the winner announcement.

laphroaig 13-vw-1998

This one was distilled on 22.09.1998 and bottled in August 2012 after it spent 13 years and 11 months (1 month short of being 14yo!) in a Refill Butt #700394. So, is it good as I expect it to be?

The Ultimate Van Wees Laphroaig 1998 13yo (60.1%, 716 bottles, buy for € 98.95 here)

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Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Tullibardine Sauternes Finish 46% vs Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish 43%

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Head to head reviews are one of the whisky geek goals and it’s always a great satisfaction when you manage to do so – putting old version of whisky vs the new version and finding out how they differ one from each other always makes me happy.

Last week there was a local whisky event which I sadly couldn’t attend and in the event they had put head to head the two versions of Tullibardine Sauternes Finish bottlings. However, samples did find their way to me so let’s go ahead and see who wins the battle.

Tullibardine Sauternes Finish (46%, 36.00 €)

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Whisky Opinion: NAS NAS NAS (Whisky) with Tasting Notes for Jura Turas Mara

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Sorry for the coming long opinion, if you just want to see the review on the whisky, scroll down to the end of the post.

After few weeks of calmness, the single malt NAS debate is raging again in the last week following the Interview with Dr. Bill Lumsden (of Glenmorangie/Ardbeg). Few more opinions and blog posts were published, summarizing how we (whisky geeks/aficionados) feel (somewhat angry and poorer after purchasing whisky), how the industry feels (caring for sales & $$$) but I want to cover another angle in this debate which I haven’t seen mentioned by anyone yet.

NAS

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Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: SMWS 2.87 – Satisfying as a butcher’s blade (Glenlivet) 21 year old 51.7%

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Time for the last of the SMWS trio I review this week, a recent one (from July 2014 outturn), a 21 year old Glenlivet: 2.87 – Satisfying as a butcher’s blade.

It was distilled on 14.04.1992 and spent 21 years in Refill Ex-Bourbon Hogshead that produced 194 bottles.

As I head to UK next month I decided to purchase a few SMWS bottles on the trip and this one caught my eyes following Bens’ recommendation. Ben then was generous enough to send me a sample from his bottle in advance of my trip so I can taste it and decide if I want a full bottle and purchase it during the trip.

SMWS 2.87 – Satisfying as a butcher’s blade (Glenlivet) 21 year old (51.7%, 194 bottles, £89)

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New Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: SMWS 73.61 A work of art (Aultmore) 24 year old 57.2%

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Lets roll with another SMWS bottling – 73.61 A work of art, tasted along with the Glen Moray I reviewed yesterday. I’ve tasted other Aultmores in the past, but this is my first Aultmore review on the blog (another one crossed off!).

It was distilled on May 1989 and bottled after 24 years after resting in refill ex-sherry butt that produced 521 bottles.

SMWS 73.61 A work of art (Aultmore) 24 year old (57.2%, 521 bottles)

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New Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: SMWS 35.103 The Great Easter Bake Off (Glen Moray) 29 year old 58.8%

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Another Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling review today and it’s my first Glen Moray distillery whisky I taste and review.

This one was distilled on December 1983 and bottled after 29 years after resting in a refill ex-sherry butt that produced 236 bottles. How does it fare?

SMWS 35.103 The Great Easter Bake Off (Glen Moray) 29 year old (58.8%, 236 bottles)

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New Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: SMWS 2.85 Vibrant and tongue-dancing (Glenlivet) 9 year old 61.4%

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Let’s continue with our series of Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings and this time one young bottling from one quite famous Speyside distillery. As usual with SMWS bottlings, the name isn’t disclosed on the label but the SMWS distilleries code were long ago ‘deciphered’ and we know it’s a Glenlivet bottling.

This one was distilled on November 2003 and bottled after 9+ years after resting in an ex-bourbon barrel that produced 207 bottles. How does it fare?

SMWS 2.85 Vibrant and tongue-dancing (Glenlivet) 9 year old (61.4%, 207 bottles)

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New Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: SMWS 93.43 Two-faced Duality (Glen Scotia) 11 year old 58.4%

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glenscotia1

Time for the last review from the Cask Strength night I had last month – another SMWS expression that will serve as a bridge to a mini series of SMWS bottlings reviews.

Today, from Campbeltown, a 11 year old Glen Scotia bottle owned by Shai Gilboa, good friend who also wrote on the blog a guest column on Whisky Live Tel-Aviv. The last Glen Scotia I had (from Wemyss Malts) was a big hit for me (review here) after my first try was a failure. Third time still a charm?