Launched at the very end of 2018, not long after the Ardmore 20 Years, this Ardmore 30 Year Old is the oldest official bottling so far, I think. An important release, yet it was launched without the usual marketing trumpets. It was distilled in their direct coal-fired stills back then (ended in 2001 after a fire), matured in refill bourbon casks and finished in first-fill bourbon casks. Nose: plenty of hay and grasses, with waxy and spicy hints (pepper, nutmeg), cold ash and

Launched at the very end of 2018, not long after the Ardmore 20 Years, this Ardmore 30 Year Old is the oldest official bottling so far, I think. An important release, yet it was launched without the usual marketing trumpets. It was distilled in their direct coal-fired stills back then (ended in 2001 after a fire), matured in refill bourbon casks and finished in first-fill bourbon casks. Nose: plenty of hay and grasses, with waxy and spicy hints (pepper, nutmeg), cold ash and

Glen Garioch Virgin Oak is 100% matured in new American oak. While it’s regularly seen for finishing or in a mix with other cask types, it can be overpowering for a full maturation. For this expression Glen Garioch specifically used ‘inner heartwood’ of 100-year-old trees, which was heavily charred. Nose: sweet, with plenty of vanilla and spices like ginger, cardamom and anise. Sugared cereals, a little buttered toast. There’s also a grassy, greenish woody note, like freshly

Glen Garioch Virgin Oak is 100% matured in new American oak. While it’s regularly seen for finishing or in a mix with other cask types, it can be overpowering for a full maturation. For this expression Glen Garioch specifically used ‘inner heartwood’ of 100-year-old trees, which was heavily charred. Nose: sweet, with plenty of vanilla and spices like ginger, cardamom and anise. Sugared cereals, a little buttered toast. There’s also a grassy, greenish woody note, like freshly

The Glenrothes Soleo Collection brought age statements back to this distillery, replacing the vintage concept which it pioneered and made popular in the past decade or so. The Glenrothes 25 Year Old (released a bit later than the others) is the oldest expression in the Soleo Collection, although a 40 Year Old is set to be released early next year. It is matured in “a high proportion” of first-fill sherry seasoned sherry casks. Too bad they stick to a modest 43% ABV even in th

The Glenrothes Soleo Collection brought age statements back to this distillery, replacing the vintage concept which it pioneered and made popular in the past decade or so. The Glenrothes 25 Year Old (released a bit later than the others) is the oldest expression in the Soleo Collection, although a 40 Year Old is set to be released early next year. It is matured in “a high proportion” of first-fill sherry seasoned sherry casks. Too bad they stick to a modest 43% ABV even in th

As you know, Loch Lomond distillery produces 11 types of single malt whisky. Inchmoan is the heavily peated style made in its signature ‘straight-neck’ pot stills (which also produce Inchmurrin). It is less peaty than Croftengea and Inchfad though. This Inchmoan 2007 single cask was bottled for the 20th anniversary of The Whisky Exchange. Nose: a very balanced, almost sensual style with silky peat, burning wood, touches of menthol and germolene. Toffee, golden apples and sabl

As you know, Loch Lomond distillery produces 11 types of single malt whisky. Inchmoan is the heavily peated style made in its signature ‘straight-neck’ pot stills (which also produce Inchmurrin). It is less peaty than Croftengea and Inchfad though. This Inchmoan 2007 single cask was bottled for the 20th anniversary of The Whisky Exchange. Nose: a very balanced, almost sensual style with silky peat, burning wood, touches of menthol and germolene. Toffee, golden apples and sabl

eSpirits, the company behind the Liquid Treasures series, released a few whiskies to mark the 10th anniversary of the company. We’ll try three releases from sherry casks. We’ll start with an undisclosed Lowland Region Malt 2011. No clue as to the origins, Auchentoshan springs to mind or even Bladnoch. Anyway are we going to end up in a situation where all independent bottlers are undisclosed names, or what? Nose: nicely candied, fruity sherry. Red berries, strawberry candy, t

eSpirits, the company behind the Liquid Treasures series, released a few whiskies to mark the 10th anniversary of the company. We’ll try three releases from sherry casks. We’ll start with an undisclosed Lowland Region Malt 2011. No clue as to the origins, Auchentoshan springs to mind or even Bladnoch. Anyway are we going to end up in a situation where all independent bottlers are undisclosed names, or what? Nose: nicely candied, fruity sherry. Red berries, strawberry candy, t

Tomatin 2006 Amontillado finish // Tomatin 2009 Caribbean rum finish Highland distillery Tomatin announced two limited editions: a 2009 Caribbean rum finish and a 2006 Amontillado sherry finish. The Caribbean rum matured for 9 years in traditional casks before being finished for one year in first-fill rum barrels. There are 7200 bottles for around € 60. The Amontillado finish sounds more interesting to me as it’s rarely used for whisky finishing. This one was also 9 years old

Tomatin 2006 Amontillado finish // Tomatin 2009 Caribbean rum finish Highland distillery Tomatin announced two limited editions: a 2009 Caribbean rum finish and a 2006 Amontillado sherry finish. The Caribbean rum matured for 9 years in traditional casks before being finished for one year in first-fill rum barrels. There are 7200 bottles for around € 60. The Amontillado finish sounds more interesting to me as it’s rarely used for whisky finishing. This one was also 9 years old

Today is my birthday, always a reason to dig up something special from my (sample) collection. I decided upon this Longmorn 12 Year Old from Hill, Thomson & Co. Once a humble grocer in Edinburgh, they developed their own brands like the famous Queen Anne blend (est. 1902). They had close relations with the Longmorn distillery and had easy access to their whisky. In 1970 the company merged with The Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distillers and Longmorn Distillers to form The Glenlivet

Today is my birthday, always a reason to dig up something special from my (sample) collection. I decided upon this Longmorn 12 Year Old from Hill, Thomson & Co. Once a humble grocer in Edinburgh, they developed their own brands like the famous Queen Anne blend (est. 1902). They had close relations with the Longmorn distillery and had easy access to their whisky. In 1970 the company merged with The Glenlivet & Glen Grant Distillers and Longmorn Distillers to form The Glenlivet

If the name Wu Dram Clan doesn’t ring a bell: it’s a whisky club of which Boris Borissov and Sebastian Jaeger are members (also involved in this Lagavulin 1997 and this Springbank 1992). Now they’ve picked a Highland Park 2003 from a European oak sherry cask. Probably a butt which they shared with the ‘Dutch flagship stores’ (yet to be announced afaik). Nose: oak spice up front (ginger, cardamom) with a leathery style of sherry. Thick dried fruits (figs and dates), coffee and

If the name Wu Dram Clan doesn’t ring a bell: it’s a whisky club of which Boris Borissov and Sebastian Jaeger are members (also involved in this Lagavulin 1997 and this Springbank 1992). Now they’ve picked a Highland Park 2003 from a European oak sherry cask. Probably a butt which they shared with the ‘Dutch flagship stores’ (yet to be announced afaik). Nose: oak spice up front (ginger, cardamom) with a leathery style of sherry. Thick dried fruits (figs and dates), coffee and

Inspired by a Renaissance painting by Verrocchio of a naïve boy led by a divine angel, Compass Box Tobias & The Angel paid some royalties to use it on the packaging. Tobias & The Angel is a vatting of 24 year-old Clynelish and ‘considerably older’ Caol Ila, an almost 50-50 combination of distilleries that Compass Box used many times since they first used it in Eleuthera in 2002. It can be seen as a celebration of 20 years of whiskymaking. Nose: quite an ethereal, almost perfu

Inspired by a Renaissance painting by Verrocchio of a naïve boy led by a divine angel, Compass Box Tobias & The Angel paid some royalties to use it on the packaging. Tobias & The Angel is a vatting of 24 year-old Clynelish and ‘considerably older’ Caol Ila, an almost 50-50 combination of distilleries that Compass Box used many times since they first used it in Eleuthera in 2002. It can be seen as a celebration of 20 years of whiskymaking. Nose: quite an ethereal, almost perfu

Bielle distillery is located on the Marie-Galante island, a part of Guadaloupe. It has always been the cane sugar island, with the production of rum agricole since the late 19th century. I know Bielle is one of the favourite malternatives of Bert Bruyneel, who runs the whisky bottler Asta Morris and the sister brand Rasta Morris. In 2019 he bottled two casks: one from 2011 (RM 009) and recently also a 2013 (RM 015). Like most of these rums, they aged most of their life on the

Bielle distillery is located on the Marie-Galante island, a part of Guadaloupe. It has always been the cane sugar island, with the production of rum agricole since the late 19th century. I know Bielle is one of the favourite malternatives of Bert Bruyneel, who runs the whisky bottler Asta Morris and the sister brand Rasta Morris. In 2019 he bottled two casks: one from 2011 (RM 009) and recently also a 2013 (RM 015). Like most of these rums, they aged most of their life on the