Shining a Light on Lost Lantern

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t… Read More

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t the first independent bottlers of American whiskies, but their selections over the last four years represent an eclectic variety of whiskies from around the country. They’re about to release their Fall 2024 tranche of whiskies, all at or close to ten years old, and we’ll catch up with Nora and Adam on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, it’s budget week in the U-K, and Scotch Whisky makers will be watching closely for news of an excise tax cut. We’ll have the rest of the week’s whisky news as well, along with this week’s tasting notes and a look at so-called “vatted malts.”

Episode 1080: October 27, 2024

Links: Lost Lantern Whiskey | Remy Cointreau | Sazerac Charity Auction | Center for Courageous Kids Raffle | Kavalan | Littlemill | Tobermory | Oban | Ardbeg | Tomintoul | Tamdhu | Baker’s Bourbon | Woodford Reserve | Barrell Craft Spirits | Laws Whiskey House | Whiskey del Bac | Log Still Distillery | Johnnie Walker Princes Street | Westward Whiskey | Benromach | Cedar Ridge Distillery

Image courtesy Lost Lantern Whiskey.

Review | Ardbeg Spectacular

Each year the Islay distillery of Ardbeg releases an annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day – this day at the beginning of June marks the end of the festival on the famous whisky island of Islay. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt fr…



Each year the Islay distillery of Ardbeg releases an annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day - this day at the beginning of June marks the end of the festival on the famous whisky island of Islay. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt from the distillery to feature maturation in ex-Port casks. It is a marriage of traditional ex-bourbon cask Ardbeg and spirit matured fully in ex-Port barrels and has been created by Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender for Ardbeg. Ardbeg Spectacular is released at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. 

The Ardbeg distillery is located on the southern coast of the Hebridean island of Islay. It was founded in 1815 by John MacDougall, although records have distillation taking place on the site as far back as 1794. The recent history shows numerous changes of ownership from the 1950s right through to a fallow period in the 1980s and 90s, until The Glenmorangie Company (now Moet Hennessy) took over in 1997. This signalled the rebirth of Ardbeg and a significant upturn in fortunes. The distillery has an annual production of just 2.4 million litres per year and boasts an award-winning visitor centre.

"Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in bourbon and port casks create a spectacle of flavours, the like of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before." 
Gillian Macdonald. 

Ardbeg Spectacular is available worldwide, plus from the Ardbeg visitor centre and brand website www.ardbeg.com. When writing this post, bottles remained available with several retailers. The exact number of bottles in this limited edition has not been revealed, but each will cost £110/ US$135.

Our Tasting Notes


The colour is deep gold and the nose is vibrant, smoky and sweet. Aromas of medicinal peat smoke and coal tar soap mingle with heather honey, bittersweet maltiness and milk chocolate. There are also further aromas of dried fruit and vanilla fudge, plus hints of smoked fish and a good pinch of white pepper. The combination is heady and inviting.

On the palate this whisky is bold and big. The medicinal peat smoke and white pepper notes from the nose hit first - think of ashy bonfire embers, drying seaweed and fresh tar combined with hints of smoked fish and a mechanics oily rag. An interesting note of liquorice develops out of this with time, as does a hint of menthol or something minty. 

Some much needed sweetness sits in the background and becomes more influential with time - imagine floral heather honey, vanilla custard and some golden syrup. Later notes of caramelised pear, dried fruit (especially plump sugary sultana, plus some cranberry), baked apple and cocoa powder also come through nicely. Some bittersweet malty cereals appear at the end.

The finish is long. Very long actually. The peat smoke wraps around everything and never loosens its grip. This drags out the length of the finish, especially once the sweeter and fruitier elements have started to fade. This gives an ashy dryness and a distinct peppery warmth.

What's The Verdict?

This is a very enjoyable whisky from Ardbeg. The use of the ex-Port casks has added a lovely depth and complexity to the flavour profile and it works very well with the high level of peat smoke on show. The way this smoke brings everything together is great and the extra sweetness elevates the whisky well. This is definitely one of the better Ardbeg Day bottlings of recent times.


Behind the Scenes at a Spirits Competition

Ever wanted to find out how a spirits competition works? This week, we’ll take you inside the recent American Craft Spirits Association’s annual judging of… Read More

Ever wanted to find out how a spirits competition works? This week, we’ll take you inside the recent American Craft Spirits Association’s annual judging of craft spirits to show you how the judging process works. It only takes a couple of minutes for trained judges to assess a whisky’s aroma, flavor and finish and determine a score. In the news, American electoral politics could affect the price you pay for whiskies in the future, no matter where you live in the world. 

Links: American Craft Spirits Association | Jim Beam | Maker’s Mark | Old Forester | Woodford Reserve | WhistlePig Whiskey | Douglas Laing & Co. | Bladnoch | The Glasgow Distillery | Kingsbarns Distillery | Glengoyne | Mossburn Distillers & Blenders | ImPex Beverages | Jameson | Old Potrero | The Whisky Exchange | The Macklowe | Ardbeg | Wayne Gretzky Estates | Eden Mill Distillery

Ardbeg Revives 17-Year-Old Single Malt

Islay-based Ardbeg Distillery has revived their 17-year-old single malt – originally discontinued in 2004 after the distillery’s purchase by The Glenmorangie Company – as a limited edition, albeit, only available to the Ardbeg Committee. Ardbeg 17-Years-Old single malt was initially introduced in 1997, bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and was said to […]

The post Ardbeg Revives 17-Year-Old Single Malt first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Islay-based Ardbeg Distillery has revived their 17-year-old single malt – originally discontinued in 2004 after the distillery’s purchase by The Glenmorangie Company – as a limited edition, albeit, only available to the Ardbeg Committee.

Ardbeg 17-Years-Old single malt was initially introduced in 1997, bottled at 40% alcohol by volume [80 proof] and was said to offer notes of their trademark smoke.

Ardbeg 17 Years Old is being made available exclusively to members of the Ardbeg Committee – either online at Ardbeg.com or at the distillery visitor center on Islay – beginning on September 24, 2024, for $210 per bottle.

The post Ardbeg Revives 17-Year-Old Single Malt first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 6, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…



Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 
 
Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news.
 
________
 
 

The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has released three whiskies into a new collection - Dalmore The Distillery Select Series. New expressions will be added annually. The 2024 Edition features rare samples of casks laid down in specific cask types and includes the 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish, 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes and the 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish. All are bottled at cask strength and are both non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

The Dalmore 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish is bottled at 15 years old and features a finish in ex-sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass in Spain. It is released at 52.8% ABV and there are just 2,736 bottles. Each will cost £300. The Dalmore 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes features a duo of cask finishes - ex-Amarone red wine from Italy and ex-Port wine from Portugal. There are just 918 bottles at 45.8% ABV. Each bottle will cost £1,000.

The Dalmore 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish is bottled at 24 years old and 50.3% ABV. Initial maturation was in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in ex-Calvados barrels sourced from the House of Drouin in France. There are just 383 bottles and each will cost £5,000. All will be available in Dalmore Boutiques around the globe, plus in specialist and luxury retailers. For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.



The Indian single malt brand of Rampur has announced the latest additions to its limited edition Jugalbandi series. The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 and #6 have been distilled at the Rampur distillery in the Himalayan foothills and created by Anup Barik, the brand's Master Blender. Jugalbandi translates as 'entwined twins' and refers to a traditional Indian musician and their instrument playing in harmony.

The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 (pictured, above left) has been initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Tokaji wine casks from Hungary. It is bottled at 55.6% ABV. The Rampur Jugalbandi #6 (pictured, above right) has seen full maturation in ex-Madeira wine barrels. It is bottled at 55.8% ABV. Both will retail at £400 per bottle and be available in selected world markets including Europe, Singapore, the UK, the USA and global travel retail.

 

The luxury single cask single malt bottler of Ferg & Harris have launched five new whiskies into their 2024 collection. Each features a special cask finish and is bottled at the natural cask strength. They will be available to purchase from www.fergandharris.co.uk and selected independent whisky retailers. The list of the five bottlings and details are listed below:

  • Tormore 11 years old / Speyside/ 63.3% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in virgin oak/ 205 bottles/ £90
  • Longmorn 12 years old / Speyside/ 58.8% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in ex-white Port/ 288 bottles/ £125
  • Bunnahabhain 14 years old / Islay/ 54.7% ABV/ ex-Oloroso sherry, finished in ex-Sauternes/ 281 bottles/ £140
  • Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 64.2% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in virgin oak/ 284 bottles/ £130
  • Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 63.1% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in ex-white Port/ 279 bottles/ £130.



The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced the rebirth of a classic - the Ardbeg 17 years old. The returning whisky will be limited edition and exclusive to Ardbeg Committee members. The original Ardbeg 17 years old was released in 1997 shortly after the distillery reopened, but was retired in 2004. Now 20 years later, a complete replica is back. 
 
The whisky has been created by Gillian Macdonald, Ardbeg's Master Blender, and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 40% ABV, just as the original was. Ardbeg 17 years old 2024 Edition will be available to Ardbeg Committee members only via www.ardbeg.com, the distillery visitor centre shop and in Ardbeg Embassies worldwide. A bottle will cost £160.



The Speyside distillery of Tamdhu has announced a new rare whisky collection and the first bottling in that collection. The Tamdhu Dedication Collection kicks off with the release of Tamdhu 43 years old. The whisky is a combination of three ex-Oloroso sherry casks that were distilled and filled in 1978 and 1979. It is presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter, which is individually numbered, and housed within a hand-built octagonal wooden casket. Tamdhu 43 years old is bottled at 50.8% ABV and there are just 100 bottles available. It will be on sale from late-September via specialist and luxury retailers. A bottle will cost £13,500.
 
"At Tamdhu, our whisky is the ultimate artistic expression. So to launch this landmark collection we did not want to get side-tracked by gimmicks. Or look away from our whisky. Because it is there, in the spirit itself, where you see our craft, passion and dedication."
Sandy McIntyre | Distillery Manager at Tamdhu.


Get Social With Us
Follow us for regular whisky updates and activities throughout the week.

The 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, and the folks at Bourbon & Banter have a unique challenge every September. They want Bourbon lovers to taste… Read More

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, and the folks at Bourbon & Banter have a unique challenge every September. They want Bourbon lovers to taste a different Bourbon each day during the month. If that sounds daunting, Bourbon & Banter founder Pops Garrett says it can be fun, too. We’ll talk with Pops Garrett about the Challenge on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Sweden’s Mackmyra Distillery has filed for bankruptcy, and we’ll get your views on whether this is a sign of things to come for the whisky industry.

Episode 1071: August 25, 2024

Links: Bourbon & Banter | 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge | Mackmyra | Penderyn | Brown-Forman | Lochlea Distillery | SirDavis American Whisky | Baker’s Bourbon | Bardstown Bourbon Company | Old Elk | J. Mattingly 1845 | The Dalmore | Talisker | Lindores Abbey Distillery | Tomintoul | Douglas Laing & Co. | WhistlePig | Brother’s Bond | Old Forester | Cedar Ridge Distillery | Ardbeg

Woodinville Whiskey Marks 15 Years

Washington’s Woodinville Whiskey is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and hundreds of people lined up this weekend to get first crack at the distillery’s… Read More

Washington’s Woodinville Whiskey is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and hundreds of people lined up this weekend to get first crack at the distillery’s latest release, an 8-year-old Bourbon that’s the oldest Woodinville release yet. We’ll talk with co-founder Orlin Sorenson on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a proposed alcohol tax increase in Nebraska has been voted down, while the Justice Department is appealing a Texas judge’s ruling that a ban on home distilling is unconstitutional.

Episode 1070: August 18, 2024

Links: Woodinville Whiskey | Dry Fly Distilling | Glen Grant | Glenmorangie | Ardbeg | The Lakes Distillery | Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Sweepstakes | Michter’s | FEW Spirits | Blood Oath Bourbon | Remus Bourbon | J. Rieger & Co. | Milam & Greene | Chivas Regal | Dad’s Hat | Elijah Craig | The Whisky Exchange | Edinburgh Whisky Academy

Image courtesy Woodinville Whiskey Co.

Ardbeg Grabs The Unicorn’s Tale And Releases It

Islay distillery Ardbeg has released The Unicorn’s Tale as the second entry in their Anthology Collection – a collection of ‘rare and strange single malts’ with each creation named after a mythological creature. Ardbeg The Unicorn’s Tale was matured in Malmsey Madeira wine and bourbon casks for 14 years, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume […]

The post Ardbeg Grabs The Unicorn’s Tale And Releases It first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Islay distillery Ardbeg has released The Unicorn’s Tale as the second entry in their Anthology Collection – a collection of ‘rare and strange single malts’ with each creation named after a mythological creature.

Ardbeg The Unicorn’s Tale was matured in Malmsey Madeira wine and bourbon casks for 14 years, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to offer notes of banana, lime and wood smoke.

Ardbeg The Unicorn’s Tale is being made available for $165 per bottle.

The post Ardbeg Grabs The Unicorn’s Tale And Releases It first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

A Whiskey Love Story

Uncle Nearest Whiskey founder Fawn Weaver spent eight years researching and writing “Love & Whiskey,” the story of Nearest Green and Jack Daniel. During that… Read More

Uncle Nearest Whiskey founder Fawn Weaver spent eight years researching and writing “Love & Whiskey,” the story of Nearest Green and Jack Daniel. During that time, she also launched the Uncle Nearest brand, one of the fastest-growing whiskey brands on the market, and the book also tells that story as well. We’ll talk with Fawn Weaver on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth, and share tasting notes for the Uncle Nearest Rye whiskey in the What I’m Tasting This Week Department. In the news, there’s a deal in place to revive the historic Dallas Dhu Distillery in Speyside, and the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2024. 

Episode 1064: July 7, 2024

Links: “Love & Whiskey Book Tour” | Uncle Nearest | Aceo Limited | Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame | Scotch Whisky Association | Whiskey House Distillery | The Balvenie | Laphroaig | Ardbeg | The GlenAllachie | Douglas Laing & Co. | Coachbuilt Whisky | Loch Lomond | Rosebank | Aberfeldy | Lagg Distillery | Lost Lantern Whiskey

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | July 5, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…



Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. 
 
Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news. 
 
________
 
 

The blended malt brand of Rock Island, part of independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co's Remarkable Regional Malts range, has revealed its latest limited edition - the Rock Island Tequila Cask Finished. It follows a series of similar releases using unorthodox cask types. As with all Rock Island whiskies, this contains only single malts from the Scottish islands - these include Arran, Islay, Jura and Orkney. they have been married together and then finished in ex-Tequila barrels sourced from Mexico.

The Rock Island Tequila Cask Finished is released at 48% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available via www.douglaslaing.com and selected specialist retailers in the UK. The exact numbers of bottles has not been revealed but each will cost £65.
 



The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie have announced two limited editions to join their Wood Collection, which highlights some of the best European wine casks. The pair will each be exclusive in different regions - the Glenallachie Wood Collection Sauternes Wine Cask Finish 12 years old (pictured, above right) for the UK market and the Glenallachie Wood Collection Ruby Port Cask Finish 10 years old (pictured, above left) for Europe. Both expressions underwent initial maturation in ex-bourbon casks.

The pair of whiskies have been created by Billy Walker, the co-owner and Master Distiller at Glenallachie, who hand-selected the finishing casks from the Sauternes region of Bordeaux in France and Douro Valley in Portugal. Both are bottled at 48% ABV and are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The Sauternes Wine Cask Finish 12 years old will be available via specialist whisky retailers in the UK, with the Ruby Port Cask Finish 10 years old likewise in Europe. Both are priced at £62 per bottle.
 
 
 

The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced the second bottling in their annual Anthology Series - the Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn's Tale 14 years old. It follows the inaugural The Harpy's Tale 13 years old release and the series is designed to celebrate marrying classic Ardbeg with unorthodox flavours. It is the first Ardbeg expression to feature a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Madeira wine barrels, both aged for 14 years, both selected and married by Dr. Bill Lumsden - the Director of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg.
 
The Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn's Tale 14 years old is bottled at 46% ABV and will be available via www.ardbeg.com, Ardbeg Embassies worldwide, the distillery visitor centre on Islay, and selected specialist retailers in selected global markets. A bottle will cost £130.
 
"At Ardbeg we love to experiment and push our spirit’s smoky balance into new worlds of flavour. Some time ago, we decided to try maturing Ardbeg in unusual cask types to create sweet and smoky ‘hybrids’– and so the Anthology Collection was born. The Unicorn’s Tale is classic Ardbeg matured in bourbon casks with a parcel of whisky wholly matured in sweet Madeira wine casks."
Dr. Bill Lumsden.



Get Social With Us
Follow us for regular whisky updates and activities throughout the week.