The latest Cask strength offering from Glendronach which I found myself diluting to enjoy. Typical flavours but I found this one lacking in that ‘wow’ factor befitting its delivery at cask strength. If nothing else this represents value for money, full…
The latest Cask strength offering from Glendronach which I found myself diluting to enjoy. Typical flavours but I found this one lacking in that 'wow' factor befitting its delivery at cask strength. If nothing else this represents value for money, full of sherry cask and some distillery character neither of which get lost when diluting with water. 84/100
Lowland distillery Lochlea has released a cask strength single malt – their first such offering – as part of a new annual series. Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1 was matured in first-fill ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 60.1% alcohol by volume [120.2 proof] and is said to offer notes of coffee, fruit and […]
Lowland distillery Lochlea has released a cask strength single malt – their first such offering – as part of a new annual series.
Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1 was matured in first-fill ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 60.1% alcohol by volume [120.2 proof] and is said to offer notes of coffee, fruit and Brazil nuts.
Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 1 is being made available for $80 per bottle across 20 markets in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
OK, guilty. In 2021, co-hunk stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley of the teenage targeted wildly popular TV series Vampire Diaries launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon. Yes, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical initially of this celebrity endorsed juice by a couple of teeny bopping “heart throbs”. But these guys have turned heads […]
OK, guilty. In 2021, co-hunk stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley of the teenage targeted wildly popular TV series Vampire Diaries launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon. Yes, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical initially of this celebrity endorsed juice by a couple of teeny bopping “heart throbs”. But these guys have turned heads (for whiskey quality, mmkay) and embarked on an impressive start to their whiskey journey.
Paul Wesley (L) and Ian Somerhalder (R). Courtesy
Their initial releases have racked up numerous tasting awards. There’s legit good street buzz about their product. That’s all well and good certainly. But from what I’ve gathered, they are truly into Bourbon. They get out there and hustle at tastings. In short, they aren’t absentee owners. More than one source within Bourbon Country’s retail industry has told me they are good dudes. Down to earth. Very approachable. You have to appreciate that.
“We’ve been dedicated to the growth of Brother’s Bond Bourbon since its inception, and the new release of our Cask Strength and launch of our Rye Whiskey is proof that we’ve established our place in the industry and can compete with top distillers,” said Co-Founder Paul Wesley.
Co-Founder Ian Somerhalder added, “We’ve put a great deal of passion and hard work into the expansion of our portfolio, so we hope anyone having our whiskey loves the new Rye and Cask Strength as much as we do.” He continued, “As we were hand selecting the three unique mash bills, we wanted to push the limits with more robust and dynamic flavors and match the richness of our Original Cask Strength bourbon. We also knew that we had to create a rye like no other that will continue to develop consumer palates as they dive deeper into the whiskey world.”
Blue Run Spirits announces its first ever Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, dropping just in time for Mother’s Day. Blue Run Kentucky Straight Emerald Single Barrel Rye Whiskey marks the second release from Blue Run’s award-winning Emerald Rye series. Blue Run Emerald Single Barrel Rye recently became available online ONLY at BlueRunSpirits.com on May 2nd. Blue […]
Blue Run Spirits announces its first ever Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, dropping just in time for Mother’s Day. Blue Run Kentucky Straight Emerald Single Barrel Rye Whiskey marks the second release from Blue Run’s award-winning Emerald Rye series. Blue Run Emerald Single Barrel Rye recently became available online ONLY at BlueRunSpirits.com on May 2nd.
Blue Run Kentucky Straight “Emerald” Single Barrel Rye Whiskey features an anodized emerald green butterfly medallion on the bottle. It is available for $199.99 SRP.
The brand made major headlines back in March announcing plans for a breath taking new $50M distillery of its own, set for Georgetown, KY.
Blue Run Spirits new distillery rendering in Georgetown, KY.
Like the Gold Medal-awarded Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey (released in November 2022), this single barrel offering was contract distilled by Blue Run Liquid Advisor Jim Rutledge at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Shaylyn Gammon, Blue Run’s Whiskey Director, selected these barrels to echo the rich, complex flavors from Emerald Rye Whiskey, but with each featuring its own personality found only in a single barrel release. Adding to the complexity, these are also bottled at barrel proof with no water added to dilute the flavor or aroma, thus allowing subtle individual nuances to shine through.
“With Blue Run’s Emerald Rye Whiskies, I am trying to work towards a baseline flavor foundation for the entire collection, then find interesting or unexpected interpretations that are wholly unique but don’t stray too far from the original profile,” said Gammon. “This might be somewhat easier when blending, but when you are working with single barrels at barrel proof, the art lies in the barrel selection, understanding how the distillate interacted with the barrel char level, and to the extent I can, what climate factors impacted that barrel as it aged over the years.”
In keeping with releasing a whiskey just before Mother’s Day, each of the single barrels from this Emerald Rye collection are named for the mothers in the lives of Blue Run founders. As noted by Shaylyn, each barrel has its own unique personality, just like these amazing women. Thanks moms!
Barrel #1 – Ashley: PROOF: 117.1 Baking spices that dance around earthy saddle leather and caramelized wood. Slight clove and herbal combinations. Dark chocolate and warm coffee with toffee linger, sweet and dry.
Barrel #2 – Liana: PROOF: 117.1 Deep blast of honey, cocktail cherries and smoked corn. Spice of cayenne that lays against the overlays of marshmallow. Toasty brioche and waffle cone combine with dense stone fruits and wood sugar structure. Mature, creamy oak finish.
Barrel #3 – Sharon: PROOF: 117.6 Brown sugared bacon, golden raisins and honeycomb. Ashy campfire smoke with crisp ginger snaps wrapping the tongue. Decadent cocoa climbs on the finish and lingers with sweet tones of dark floral honey. Touches of licorice.
Barrel #4 – Shawn: PROOF: 117.9 Smoky wood embers and decadent, creamy caramel with a background of baking spices and a medley of toffee and butterscotch. Gingery wrap that heightens and settles into plush oak flavors.
Barrel #5 – Janis: PROOF: 118.1 Bold oak and crisp toasted frame. Chopped red apple that sweeps around layers of caramel and roasted nuts. Seductive herbal notes of rosemary and sage give way to a plush reveal of cracked black pepper and butterscotch.
Barrel #6 – Cheryl: PROOF: 117.9 Honey granola and golden-brown sugar. Sweet macadamia nut rolled in a twist of nougat with generous drizzles of chocolate. Biscuit with hints of orange marmalade. Caramel corn finish.
Barrel #7 – Jodi: PROOF: 116.3 Bright tobacco leaves intertwine with coriander and black pepper for a savory reveal. Dark cherry and mint mingle with distinctive ginger and burnt truffles.
Barrel #8 – Minette: PROOF: 116.7 Toffee bar and decadent caramel. Crushed walnuts come to attention with an array of clove and nutmeg. Bready essence of yeast and grains only heightens with a finish of roasted corn.
Barrel #9 – Kimberly: PROOF: 116.8 Chewy bites of caramel that evolve into a myriad of baking spices. Smoky cigar box overlay with a boastful amount of dark cherry and ginger flavors intertwined to carry through to the rich flavors of oak.
Barrel #10 – Paige: PROOF: 118.2 Balance of florals, cooked peaches and warm grains. Astonishing softness of vanilla with firm textures of oak. Concentrated toasted coconut and modest fruit. Finishes with nutmeg and a cloak of clove.
This new whisky is the latest bottling in the popular annual cask strength series from the east Highland distillery of Glendronach. The Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 11 is a celebration of both natural strength whisky and of Glendronach’s heavily she…
This new whisky is the latest bottling in the popular annual cask strength series from the east Highland distillery of Glendronach. The Glendronach Cask Strength Batch 11 is a celebration of both natural strength whisky and of Glendronach's heavily sherried style. It has been created by Dr. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Glendronach, using a combination of spirit matured in Spanish oak ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
The Batch 11 has been bottled at 59.8% ABV and is limited in number, although the exact quantity has not been revealed. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in specialist whisky retailers in selected global markets. A bottle will cost £68/ $78 US.
The Glendronach distillery was founded in 1826 by James Allardice and is located in the Aberdeenshire countryside, close to the town of Huntly. The majority of the present buildings date from 1850 when the distillery was rebuilt following a devastating fire. It was the last in Scotland to use stills directly fired by coal - this practice only finished in 2005. The distillery is known for its use of high quality ex-sherry casks and is currently owned by Brown-Forman, who took control in 2016. The annual production has recently increased to around two million litres.
Our tasting notes
The colour is deep amber and the nose is full of deep and rich aromas. Cognac-soaked raisins, prune, figs and sultanas rise first and are then followed by further aromas of candied orange peel, toasted nuts and caramel. In the background there are hints of orange oil, marzipan and treacle tart.
On the palate this whisky is equally as deep and rich as the nose suggested. The dark dried fruits dominate to begin with and these follow a similar track as before - there are plenty of raisins, sultanas and candied citrus peel on offer, plus deeper notes of prune, fig and dates. Caramel and treacle sit underneath and alongside some increasingly heavy woody and baking spice. This gives warmth and further depth. The spices threaten to become too influential but just about hold themselves back enough. Hints of toasted nuts (especially hazelnut and walnut), marzipan and orange oils sit alongside further hints of cocoa, milk chocolate and some late warming gingerbread.
The finish is superbly long and warming. The sweet caramel-like and dried fruit notes drag the finish out. As they slowly fade, the drier woodier and spicer notes take hold, There is also an increasing earthy and dusty note, which always comes from older whiskies maturing in good quality ex-sherry casks. Delicious.
What's the verdict?
This latest offering of the Glendronach Cask Strength is very good and shows everything that consumers love about the distillery. Their bold spirit works superbly well with ex-sherry casks and the aromas and flavours are heightened by the higher ABV. This should keep both Glendronach fanatics and new fans happy. The only slight negative was that the mid-palate comes dangerously close to becoming too woody and tannic, but thankfully reins it in just in time.
Islay distillery Bunnahabhain has released a 12-year-old cask strength whisky that is their 2022 release of their 12-year-old limited edition whisky. Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Cask Strength was matured in both first and second-fill Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 56.6% alcohol by volume [113.2 proof] and is said to contain notes of cherry, cinnamon, cocoa and a […]
Islay distillery Bunnahabhain has released a 12-year-old cask strength whisky that is their 2022 release of their 12-year-old limited edition whisky.
Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Cask Strength was matured in both first and second-fill Oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 56.6% alcohol by volume [113.2 proof] and is said to contain notes of cherry, cinnamon, cocoa and a light sea spray.
Bunnahabhain 12-Year-Old Cask Strength is being made available in Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the USA for $90 per bottle.
I know the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is made from 100% ex-Bourbon casks because it’s front and center on Springbank’s website. It’s a small thing to do, but a huge piece of info for whisky nerds. A small detail by Springbank to show they know their fans and what they want to know. Whisky […]
I know the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is made from 100% ex-Bourbon casks because it’s front and center on Springbank’s website. It’s a small thing to do, but a huge piece of info for whisky nerds. A small detail by Springbank to show they know their fans and what they want to know.
Whisky nerds love Springbank and whisky nerds love details. Giving info about the whisky is a low-lift way for brands to pull fans in deeper while also generating more curiosity about the brand and whisky in general. I wish more would do this very simple thing.
Let’s get to drinkin’!
Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength- Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Single Malt (Scotch) Region: Campbeltown, Scotland Distiller: Springbank
“Always bottled at cask strength, this is a wonderfully balanced dram that boasts a smooth, buttery body and rich, fruity palate. Add a drop of water to release milk chocolate and vanilla notes.” – Springbank
Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength Tasting Notes
EYE
Dark amber
NOSE
Caramel, graham, vanilla, honey, roasted nuts, smoke, cinnamon and a light bit of banana bread and Springbank funk.
This is a heavy, heady aroma that rolls through the senses warmly.
PALATE
Smoke, caramel, banana chips, dried orchard fruit, vanilla, Honey Nut Cheerios and some oaky notes.
Not quite as complex and robust as the aroma, but every bit as rich and deep.
FINISH
Long -> Caramel, graham, and honey fade to spice and smoke.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well-balanced and full-bodied with a heavy oily feel.
Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength – Overall Thoughts and Score
This is a big whisky. A heavy, bold, rich whisky that coats the senses and delivers a complex tasting and sniffing experience. It’s light on that signature Springbank note until you add water and then it’s right there, in your face. Literally. And speaking of adding water.
A splash dulls down the smoke a tad and brings out more of the fruity and vanilla/candy-like notes. It also gives it a slightly waxier feel and makes for a more well-rounded experience. Though, we’re talking about quarter steps not full steps here, straight out of the bottle the Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is a darn good whisky.
Spoiler, I really dig the Highland Park Cask Strength, it was a standout at a recent Malt Nuts and hearkens to some of the older HPs I’ve enjoyed. And by older I mean historical, not age stated. The current releases barely hold a candle to their slope-shouldered brethren of the past, but there is a […]
Spoiler, I really dig the Highland Park Cask Strength, it was a standout at a recent Malt Nuts and hearkens to some of the older HPs I’ve enjoyed. And by older I mean historical, not age stated. The current releases barely hold a candle to their slope-shouldered brethren of the past, but there is a hint of that essense here. Though speaking of bottles…
While I do hate all the Thor, Lokie, blah blah blah stuff they’re doing, I do actually like the current bottle design when you look at it in pieces. Sitting on the shelf I don’t like looking at it, but when you focus on the details, it’s functionally nice. The twist + cork cap they use I’ve loved since they started doing it, the celtic knot work makes it easy to hold on to, but the shape is awkward on the shelf and that’s really where It grinds my gears.
But, as I’ve said many times, this isn’t a design blog, it’s a whisky blog, so let’s get to drinkin’!
Highland Park Cask Strength – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Single Malt (Scotch) Region: Highlands, Scotland – or Islands? Distiller: Highland Park
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley Cask: ex-Bourbon, Sherry Seasoned (European and American oak) Age: 3+ Years ABV: 63.9%
“The clue is in the name really. Cask Strength Release No. 2 is bottled straight from the cask, without adding water to reduce alcohol content, to deliver an extraordinary depth, complexity and balance of flavours.” – Highland Park
Highland Park Cask Strength Tasting Notes
EYE
Coppery
NOSE
Butterscotch, malt, dried fruit, leather, vanilla, graham cracker, ash and baking spice.
A nice aroma that blows the current 12 out of the water.
A lovely warm taste that gets a tad more candy-sweet with water.
FINISH
Long -> Graham, ash, dried fruit and caramel.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium-full body and a warm oily feel.
Highland Park Cask Strength – Overall Thoughts and Score
Adding water brings out increasing layers of spice and vanilla-lead candy sweetness. It starts out more oaky, dark fruit, char and caramel, but with some air and water it blossoms into something more deep and interesting. It’s a whisky that needs a smidge of patience.
Once it opens, it’s a delight. You get a wee hint of the sherried HP glory of the past and more smoke than in any HP I can currently remember which tamps down some of the sweetness and brings more balance. Highland Park Cask Strength is a tasty whisky and I’ll definitely be grabbing another bottle when the next batch comes out.
Highland Park, based in the Orkney Islands, has released Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 3 – a single malt that is the third entry in their Cask Strength series. Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 was made with a higher amount of Orkney peated malt than previous entries in the series, matured in first-fill […]
Highland Park, based in the Orkney Islands, has released Highland Park Cask Strength Release No. 3 – a single malt that is the third entry in their Cask Strength series.
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 was made with a higher amount of Orkney peated malt than previous entries in the series, matured in first-fill sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks, as well as a few refill casks, bottled at 64.1% alcohol by volume [128.2 proof] and is said to contain notes of honey, mango, peat smoke and vanilla.
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 is being made available for $100 per bottle.
Do you like toasted bourbon ? We love it, so when found out that Red Line bourbon had a single barrel cask strength expression, we just had to have a bottle. With every barrel comes a signature line. This “Red Line” is a caramelized layer of sugars that develops just beneath the char. The Morley’s,
We love it, so when found out that Red Line bourbon had a single barrel cask strength expression, we just had to have a bottle.
With every barrel comes a signature line. This “Red Line” is a caramelized layer of sugars that develops just beneath the char.
The Morley’s, a father and son duo with over 30 years of experience in the spirits world launched Red Line Whiskey in 2021 that began as a passion and a dream. They only produce single barrel expressions.
We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review. Be sure to listen in to the podcast episode on your favorite platform for more information. Cheers!
Tasting Notes: Red Line Single Barrel Cast Strength Bourbon
Vital Stats:This is a 6 year old Indiana bourbon with a mashbill of 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley that has been finished in a toasted barrel. Our bottle is 118 proof and has an MSRP of $79.99.
Appearance: Almost a wine bottle with red mahogany whiskey inside.
Nose: Different right off the start with a pleasant sweetness. Lots of spice with some dark fruit. Light oak and spiced apple rings.
Palate: A full bodied aggressive whiskey. It’s pop rocks dancing across your tongue. Toasted marshmallow with allspice and a hint of liquorice. Some dried tangerine and Atomic fireball spice that will leave your lips numb.
Finish: Medium with a beautiful hug.
Overall: This is a great single barrel toasted bourbon at cask Strength that can compete with the giants of the whiskey industry. It’s a buy for us all day long. Keep doing what your doing Taylor, we thank you for sharing a bottle with us. Cheers
