This Glenfarclas 2008 is a single cask release for Corman Collins , one of the pioneers in Belgium when it comes to selling single Maltwhisky. For some time they acted as the Belgian partner of La Maison du Whisky and they released some joint bottlings with Mario Grooteklaes (“M&H Cask Selection”) who later started The Nectar.

They celebrated the 50th anniversary of the company in 2015 but recently also the decease of the founder Hubert Corman. I believe this Glenfarclas 2008 ‘Cuvée du Fondateur Corman Collins 2016’ was bottled in his honour.

Glenfarclas 2008 (58%, OB ‘Cuvée...

In 2016 Tullibardine distillery created a Marquess Collection which honours Lord William Murray, the Marquess of Tullibardine.

first release is Tullibardine The Murray , matured in first-fill bourbon barrels for around 12 years and bottled at cask strength.

Tullibardine ‘The Murray’ 2004 (56,1%, OB 2016, Marquess Collection, first-fill bourbon, 6000 btl.)

Nose: curious. First there’s a dusty side to it, but it opens up nicely on soft fruits (nectarine, apple, lemon, a little mango eventually) and oak spices. Vanilla custard. A bright, rather blossomy nose. Mouth: quite hot and spicy, sweet, with plenty of barley. Lemons and...

This is the third edition in the Teeling Revival series, a 14 year-old single malt distilled in 2002, matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in 350 litre Pineau des Charentes casks, a first for Irish whiskey.

Pineau des Charentes is a sweet French aperitif, made mainly in the southwestern regions of Charente and Charente-Maritime. It is the cognac region , and indeed cognac eau-de-vie is used to fortify grape must or partially fermented fresh Charentais, which is then left to mature in oak casks.

Be sure to compare with the first Teeling Revival launched last year.

Teeling...

Amrut 12 YO Greedy Angels – Chairman’s Reserve, 60 % A few months ago Indian distillery Amrut released the Amrut 12 YO Greedy Angels – Chairman’s Reserve. The first ever 12 YO Indian single Maltwhisky. It is also the most expensive Indian whisky ever, at around USD 1000 per bottle. Only 100 bottles were made, and […]...

By Susannah Skiver Barton

This week, check out two vintage scotches from Glenmorangie and Benromach , and the latest Master’s Keep bourbon from Wild Turkey .

 Glenmorangie Bond House No. 1 Grand Vintage 1990

Style: Single malt scotch Proof: 43% ABV Price: $630 Release: februari 2017 Availability: Nationwide, but in limited amounts

Need to know: This is 25 year old whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks, with a small amount aged in ex-sherry casks.

Whisky Advocate says: The Bond House No. 1 Collection is a new series aimed at collectors, and each whisky released will be a vintage. The name comes...

South African wine has always held a place in my heart – while on holiday there, I had my first-ever tasting. Those were the days of swallow not spit…there was no assessment of the wines and I am not sure if I remember the whole tour, but they charmed me and still do to this day.

The Whisky Exchange’s head buyer, Dawn Davies MW

It was the Dutch who brought wine to South Africa back in 1659 when the first recorded bottles were produced. In the beginning, it was largely badly made and rustic, providing much-needed refreshment to the European...

Teeling presented the third volume of its Teeling Revival series. This 14 years old Irish whiskey was matured in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in 350 litre Pineau de Charentes casks. It is bottled at 46% and 10.000 bottles are available for around € 120.

In case you’re curious, it’s very tasty. My review of the new Teeling Revival will be published on Monday.

From Compass Box comes the news of a new Breakthru blend . It is a bespoke blend for their distributor Breakthru Beverage Group. The label says it is extremely limited, so I assume this will...

The first edition of the TWE Whisky Show Old & Rare (organized by The Whisky Exchange, guided by whisky experts Angus MacRaild and Jonny McMillan) will be held this weekend in Glasgow. It’s going to be a mind-boggling display of fine, rare and antique single malts and spirits. Lots of auctions houses and collectors (Dornoch Castle, Fiddler’s, LMdW, The Auld Alliance, Michiel Wigman, Jens Drewitz, Geert Bero…) will let you try some of their most precious bottles.

Tickets for Saturday are sold out, but you could still go on Sunday. Entry is around € 120, half of which can be...

Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2016), 57,7 % Well, what do you know? I have actually tried the latest Lagavulin 12 YO. This is the annual, limited edition, cask strength version of Lagavulin that is released as part of the Diageo Special Releases. So, let’s see how the Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2016) compares to the […]...

I always thought Mannochmore distillery was mothballed between 1985 and 1989 (many sources mention this) but apparently they did produce in 1988. Around this time, production was rather irregular anyway, with the personnel often being moved between Mannochmore and sister distillery Glenlossie.

This Mannochmore 1988 is a brand-new bottling from Whisky-Fässle . Even though the alcohol strength seems perfectly standard, it was actually bottled at cask strength.

Mannochmore 28 yo 1988 (46%, Whisky-Fässle 2016, hogshead)

Nose: an elegant, rather oily but also quite fruity profile. Apricots, pineapple, a little kiwi. Yellow apples. Some malty notes. Custard cream. Hints...

Glenkinchie 1991 24 YO (Special Release 2016), 57,2 % I have not quite finished with the Diageo Special release 2016 whiskies. Today I look more closely at the Glenkinchie 1991 24 YO (Special Release 2016). It distilled in 1991, then was matured for 24 years in refill European oak butts. The total outturn was 5928 bottles. […]...

Linkwood 1978 37 YO (Special Release 2016), 50,3 % Another expensive special release is under review today. I apologize to the readers that feel there’s too few affordable and available whiskies reviewed lately, but I promise to make up for that shortly. But today, the focus is on the Linkwood 1978 37 YO (Special Release 2016). […]...

Mackmyra Moment Solsken (8), NAS, 52,6 % The Mackmyra Moment Solsken (8) is the eight release in the Moment Series from Swedish distillery Mackmyra. This no age statement expression was released in a limited edition of 3000 bottles in 2012. Here’s the brief description of the Mackmyra Moment Solsken (8) from the distillery: “Our eighth release […]...

Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285, 47,8 % The Speyside distillery Balvenie has a series of single cask releases going. One of these is the Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask. I have now tried the latest release that arrived in Norway, namely the Balvenie 15 YO Single Barrel Sherry Cask #11285. The total outturn […]...

By Susannah Skiver Barton

Barrell Craft Spirits —the company behind the Barrell Bourbon, Barrell Whiskey, and Barrell Rum brands—has announced plans to build its own distillery in Louisville, Kentucky’s Gilmore Industrial area, naming Tripp Stimson as master distiller. Stimson formerly worked as a scientist at Brown-Forman and as master distiller at Kentucky Artisan Distillery (KAD), where Jefferson’s bourbon , among other brands, is made. In addition to providing consultation services to the craft spirits industry for the last few years, he also built Kentucky’s first malting operation at KAD in 2016.

Barrell was founded in 2014 with a business model based...