Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Wemyss Malts ‘Bench with a Sea View’ 1997 (Clynelish)

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October is the hot season for new whisky releases and reviews. In fact, many new whisky announcements starts during September, but taking into account a distribution period of a month or so for the whisky to arrive to shops, October is main stage.

Following their success last year, Wemyss Malts again released 12 single casks last month geared toward holiday shoppers. One of them is a Clynelish 1997 vintage (so it’s either 16yo or 17yo, probably 16yo) named “Bench with a Sea View” which yielded 373 bottles (ex-bourbon cask/barrel).

I loved those Wemyess single casks I happened to taste and review, therefor I hoped this one won’t disappoint. Continue reading →

Book Review: Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015

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We’re deep into October and it means that a new Malt Whisky Yearbook was released. I got my copy of the 2015 edition last week (bought and signed at the TWE whisky show, Thanks Michael!) and I spent the last week going over it and enjoying it a lot.

MWY2015

Since it’s the first time I’m reviewing the MWY on the blog let me tell you what’s in it:

The first part contains different articles from various knowledgeable writers covering different aspects and fields on whisky. This year there are chapters on: Continue reading →

Whisky Review – Royal Lochnagar DE 1998-2011

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I believe I wrote it before but it’s a fact that can bear a repetition: Wine finishes are a notorious hard thing to do correctly. It’s not easy to do it and keep it balanced and mesh the flavours together to elevate the whisky to another level.

Therefor it’s not really surprising to see why they aren’t too common and it’s mostly done with special editions and not official bottlings. Heck, take out Sauternes finish segment and the count is even rarer.

But there are a few braves expressions out there, like this one: the Royal Lochnagar DE. It’s using a dessert win but not the Sauternes but Muscat.

Our local airport shop carries this bottle and few months ago it was in a 50% discount (about $50) so a good friend of mine, Yori, who passed through the airport, grabbed a bottle and I got to try it. (Thanks Yori!)

How well does it integrate with nature of Royal Lochnagar highland spirit? Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Glen Garioch 15 year old Renaissance 51.9%

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Glen Garioch aren’t sitting on their hands basking in the success of the 1998 Wine Cask Matured release earlier this year (which was a mystery blind dram and I loved it a lot!) and two months ago released a new limited edition: Glen Garioch The Renaissance 15 year old.

This release is the first of 4 limited (and exclusive) editions (15, 16, 17 & 18 year olds) to be released annually, aptly named Glen Garioch Renaissance Collection which is here to celebrate the new house character that Glen Garioch took after the re-opening in 1997 following the purchase of Morrison Bowmore by Suntory. As such, all whisky was distilled after 1997 to reflect the new distillery style.

This initial release was matured bourbon and sherry casks for 15 years and only 12,000 bottles were produced. Do they keep striking gold?  Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Bowmore The Devil’s Casks Batch 2

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Well, well, see who’s back? the devil has returned for a second round!

devilscask2

Following the HUGE (huge? Godzilla was dwarfed in comparison) success of the first incarnation of the Devils Casks release in 2013, Bowmore has released the 2nd batch a while ago. And guess what? It took less than a nano-second to get sold-out across UK/Europe. As with the first batch, bottles are available in auctions for x4 (and more) of the original price.

I loved the first batch (see my review here) after getting a sample from my friend Ben (of Ben’s Whisky Blog) so I thought of getting a bottle of the 2nd batch but I didn’t really have a chance as my favorite stores didn’t get any serious bottles allocation (1 bottle in some cases!). But then Ben came to the rescue as he managed to get a bottle of the 2nd batch as well (and he opened it! and drink it! not flipping in auctions!) and generously sent me a sample of it.

So, will I love the 2nd batch as I loved the first one? Also, should I build a shrine for Ben? Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Big Peat Xmas Edition 2014

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It was finally cold last night and I had to turn off the ventilator and use a blanket! We’re past the equinox and finally winter is showing signs of life. And do you know what does it means? Winter is coming indeed but I was thinking of: Holidays are coming!

We’re seeing a big wave of releases geared toward holidays shopping. As usual there are also some annual releases in that wave and one that I’m always waiting for is Big Peat the Xmas Edition.

I have a bottle of the regular Big Peat, which is a huge success around the world (and I should really publish the tasting notes for it, I know!) and during my visit to Douglas Laing HQ tasted 2 of their special editions which were awesome for blended peated whisky. And how does the new edition fare? Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing Timorous Beastie

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Last October I had the honor to visit Douglas Laing HQ on the day when they released Scallywag (my visit recap here and the liquid recap here 🙂 )

Scallywag was Big Peat companion, and now, almost a year after, we meet Timorous Beastie, the companion to Scallywag, right?

TimorousBeastie (2)

Scallywag was sherried speyside and Timorous completes it by being a highlands whisky. It contains single malts from Dalmore, Glengoyne, Glen Garioch and others and is bottled at 46.8%.

so how beast-ly is this mouse? Continue reading →

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes: Hunter Laing Highland Journey 46.2%

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Last month the blended malt whisky market got suddenly crowded when we got not one but two new highlands blended malt whiskies.

Racing neck to neck are Hunter Laing with their new Highland Journey release and Douglas Laing with Timorous Beastie. Yup, the Laing companies that formed 1.5 years ago are competing one against each other.

But are they? Do they target the same audience?

Continue reading →

Whisky News – Laphroaig Live 2014

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When it comes to industry news and events, I usually do not publish them on the blog unless it’s accompanied with new whisky release, which frankly, is the kind of news that interest me (and you too I hope).

Laphroaig is my favorite distillery and in the Laphroaig Live 2014 they will introduce A unique 12 year old triple casked Nordic special bottling so I guess it does fall under the news I should provide you.

However, today is eve of new Jewish year which means I’ll be sitting with the family to a feast and so won’t be able to watch the event. But you can can my substitute so go ahead and watch it live at Laphroaiglive.tv. Slainte!

 

laph live 2014

 

Here is what you need to know:

LAPHROAIG LIVE 2014 comes to STOCKHOLM!

Wednesday 24th September

Sweden                 8.00 PM
UK                          7.00 PM
New York            2.00 PM
Los Angeles        11.00AM
Sydney                04:00AM

On Wednesday 24th September at 8pm local time ( 7pm UK,) the eighth annual Laphroaig Live will broadcast live from Sweden.

This year’s show will be streamed live from a tiny island called Fjäderholmarna which is part of the archipelago just outside Stockholm.

During the show a panel of whisky experts will be tasting 4 phenomenal Laphroaigs:

A unique 12 year old triple casked Nordic special, this year’s much acclaimed Cairdeas finished in Amontillado casks, the latest Global expression called Select and a fourth that will be decided by a Friends of Laphroaig online vote.

An expert panel of guests will explore the strong connections between smoke and depth of flavour in what is sure to be a smoke fest!

As always, we’ll be joined by Distillery Manager, John Campbell. This year he’ll be accompanied by a panel consisting of these famous Swedish personalities; Nour el Refai  a comedian, TV personality, host and a well-known Swedish radio presenter, Peter Borg chairman of the Swedish Whisky Association and Håkan Dahlberg a prolific Swedish whisky blogger of I Love Whisky. 

And last year’s Swedish Bartender of the Year Madeleine Solo Rapp will be making a guest appearance and creating something special using Laphroaig.

Watch the event live here: http://live.laphroaig.tv/show/laphroaig-live-2014-comes-to-stockholm

Whisky Review & Tasting Notes – A trio of whiskies from New Zealand

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I believe I said it before, but I’ll say it again – I love tasting world whiskies. It’s fascinating to see various people in different places around the world, who love whisky and produce it. In my short whisky journey I was lucky enough to taste whisky from Scotland (doh), Europe, South Africa, Australia and more but it’s time to get to the southern-est place where whisky was produced – New Zealand.

The-New-Zealand-Whisky-Company-Logo

The sad fact is that currently there’s no active and working distillery in New Zealand. The last active distillery was Willowbank Distillery on the southern island in New Zealand and it was closed down in 1997 and mothballed in 1999. Luckily, the New Zealand Whisky Company bought in 2010 the remaining casks and all those New Zealand whiskies are sourced from those barrels, and so it will stay, until a new distillery will be setup there (or barrels emptied).

Continue reading →