One of the lesser known distilleries in the recent batch of Single Malts of Scotland single cask releases: a Tormore 1988 .

Tormore 28 yo 1988 (63,3%, Single Malts of Scotland 2016, cask #0602)

Nose: this impressive strength brings out the dusty old style, while leaving the thick body in place. Malty core, with sweet oranges, cooked apples and a hint of peaches. Subtle spices and dried grassy notes. Mouth: punchy, though the flavours are fairly neutral. Thick fruity notes (oranges, apples) with some butterscotch, honey and spicy oak (pepper, ginger). The warm spirit takes center stage. Finish:...

BenRiach 22 YO Moscatel Finish, 46 % The BenRiach 22 YO Moscatel Finish is a limited release that came on market late 2016. It is limited to 5927 bottles, and was bottled on 2016-08-29. Here is what they say about their whisky on the BenRiach website: “Moscatel is a sweet fortified wine, hailing from Portugal and Spain, […]...

Benromach release the 2009 edition of its Sassicaia Wood Finish recently. Like the previous editions (2005, 2006 and 2007) it was originally matured in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished for 28 months in wine casks from the Bolgheri region in Tuscany, Italy.

They’ve released almost 8000 bottles, almost double the amount of the last edition.

Benromach Sassicaia 2009 ‘Wood finish’ (45%, OB 2017, 7783 btl.)

Nose: the same old-style whisky as the 10 Year Old, with dusty barley and quite some smoke. Rather sweet this time: brown sugar, red berries and cinnamon. A mustard & honey combo....

Glengoyne 1969 Vintage Reserve, 25 YO, 47 % A golden oldie is on the test bench today. The Glengoyne 1969 Vintage Reserve was distilled 1969-07-16, just a few months after I was born. It is not very often I get the chance to try a whisky of the sane vintage as myself. They are getting quite […]...

Many people believe that whisky is all about Scotch . Even though whiskies from other countries such as Japan , Taiwan and Ireland are pretty good, why bother when you have such an array of styles from Scotland?

The truth is that what I find in Irish whiskey, I cannot find in any other whisky. There is an elegance and fruitiness that is unique to these style of whiskies, the older whiskies even have a tropical-fruit character that is a personal favourite.

The water wheel at the Old Midleton Distillery

Irish whiskey styles

What makes these whiskeys different? Firstly, they...

Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated, NAS, 44 % Today I take a look at a whisky that was released last summer. The Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated has, as indicated by the name, been matured in octaves. The octaves used are 55 litre large (1/8 of a butt). You can Läs mer about the product here. I did find a […]...

By Susannah Skiver Barton

In the last few years, Irish whiskeys have begun crowding bourbon and scotch on the shelf. In fact, Ireland’s distilling scene is undergoing an exciting renaissance—as detailed in our Winter 2016 issue . So it’s no surprise to see new brands hitting the U.S., especially around St. Paddy’s Day. Check out these four Irish whiskeys rolling out now—two new expressions from Bushmills and Tyrconnell , a unique Irish-American hybrid whiskey from Connacht , and Jameson ’s limited-edition St. Patrick’s Day bottle.

Bushmills Red Bush

Style: Blended Irish whiskey Proof: 40% ABV Price: $23 Release: mars 2017...

Happy Saint Patrick’s. No better way to celebrate than try one of these excellent old Irish Malts that appeared lately.  Maltbarn recently released this  Irish single malt 1989 .

Irish malt 27 yo 1989 (45,5%, Maltbarn 2016, bourbon cask, 211 btl.)

Nose: just a hint of minerality up front, before it bursts into fruits. Nice acidity, it’s full of fresh pineapple and passion fruit. Unripe mango and banana. Citrus green tea and spearmint. Fresh oak shavings. One of the more obvious bourbon-matured versions. Excellent. Mouth: a fruit explosion again. Tangerines, pineapples, mangos, whitecurrant… mixed with elderflower, lime leaf....

This is Scotch Maltwhisky blended at birth in augusti 1994 and left to mature in a sherry butt. In oktober 2013 it was bottled by Svenska Eldvatten in Sweden.

Rumours say this could be a mix of Highland Park and Glenrothes . It makes sense as they belong to the same Edrington group.

Svenska Eldvatten 19 yo ‘Vintage 1994’ (54,5%, Svenska Eldvatten 2013, single cask blended malt, sherry matured, 619 btl.)

Nose: lots of fudge and banoffee, with milk chocolate and the burnt sugar on top of a crème brûlée. Some buttery notes and vanilla. Hints of...

One more Bunnahabhain review in the mini series, this time it’s a youngster, only 16 years distilled in 1999 and bottled by Cadenead in 2016. However, this is isn’t your run of the mill Bunna bottling as it was aged in two different casks over its lifespan. Originally matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in a sherry hogshead for almost 3 years.

Let’s check who won here, the bourbon cask or the sherry cask:

Cadenheads Bunnahabhain 16 Year Old (49.7%,  €99.99 )

Nose : Feels mature for its age, gentle sherry impact with sour-sweet dried fruit, a strong vanilla and cream notes,...

Following the very good and tasty duo from yesterday, here’s another old and well matured Bunnahabhain and it will be a sandwich vintage to the due (from 1988) but since it was the last to be bottled, it carries the 28 year old sign on the label.

It was bottled by Speciality Drinks Ltd (sister company to The Whisky Exchange), 344 bottles were produced from cask 100229 and I have high hopes from it.

Bunnahabhain 1988 28 Year Old (The Single Malts of Scotland) (46.8%, £150/ €209,00 )

Nose : Heavy and oily nose (definitely more than the duo from yesterday), strong...