Whisky

Balvenie 12 Years Old Doublewood

Smooth and honeyed, a very well put together expression from The Balvenie. I feel I picked out more of the sherry component more clearly possibly due to age or experience or perhaps this batch the sherry influence is more defined. A real pleasure to re…

Nc’nean Quiet Rebels Annabel

Fairly well structured, displays some youthful spirit as you would expect for 3-4 year old whisky. There was more than a hint of cardboard I associate with STR casks added to the woody element here. This has clearly been well put together from the cask…

Lindores MCDXCIV

Pleasant with some presence of distillery character and plenty of oak wood influence. The cask variety adds to a multitude of flavours and aromas also. 82/100

Exploring the Luxury Whisky Market (Episode 986: January 8, 2023)

Whiskies are being released at staggering prices with an eye to investors as well as collectors, but what is the market for these rare whiskies? Duncan Taylor & Co. has just released a £75,000 1969 Macallan, and we’ll talk with Peter Currie of Shand Imports about this whisky and its intended market on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. Links: Duncan Taylor & Co. | Hood River Distillers | Buxrud.se | Gordon & MacPhail | The Independent | The Lakes Distillery | Westland Distillery | Indri | Larceny Bourbon 

McEwan Honored with MBE

January 2, 2023 – “For contributions to the Scotch Whisky industry and the community on Islay.” Eleven words that describe a six-decade career in the whisky industry, but not nearly enough to describe Jim McEwan’s career. McEwan was named a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles’s first New Year’s Honours List along with Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes, who will be knighted for his services to the business community and equality. “To receive an award like that completely floored me…I never ever, ever, ever, anticipated anything like that, McEwan said in a telephone interview with Read More »

Glasgow 1770 Golden Beer Cask Finish

Really loving this one, there is still hints of sherry influence but also plenty of beer notes too coming through. This has added some depth and variety to Glasgow’s fruity spirit nature. 88/100

Glasgow 1770 The Original

As described Fresh and Fruity, lovely distillate notes shine through with just a hint of perhaps too much virgin oak (pencil shavings) but otherwise a very enjoyable dram. 82/100

Spey Fumare

Fumare is delicious and shows some of the more delicate aspects of peat-influence. This will change over time in the glass so worth taking some time over this one. 85/100

Beinn Dubh

Enjoyable but perhaps doesn’t quite deliver what you would expect from the colour. This still has that classic Speyside distillery medium-light spirit style. Plenty of fruit and chocolate from the cask maturation and later some tannins and pleasant spi…

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