Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2014), 54,4 % This is a classic element of the annual Diageo Special releases. The Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2014) was the 14th release. Most years this release is the (only) affordable one out of all the Special releases, and it certainly is a contender for best value for money. The […]...

Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2015), 56,8 % I follow-up from yesterday’s review. Here’s the 2015 release; the Lagavulin 12 YO (Special Release 2015). A classic 12 YO, cask strength Lagavulin. Rougher, younger and more character-full than the regular 16 YO, in my humble opinion. This was the 15th release of the 12 YO cask strength. This […]...

Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney with Beam Suntory CEO Matt Shattock

By Susannah Skiver Barton

There’s another reason to celebrate the reigning World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs . Starting this year, two bourbon brands— Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark —are launching partnerships with the team.

As part of a deal made by parent company Beam Suntory , Jim Beam bourbon will have long-term naming rights to a new first base club at Wrigley Field. The club will take two seasons to complete, so for now, expect to see Jim Beam signage and promotions in the upper deck...

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Gin is in a fantastic place. It’s booming in the UK, with new distilleries popping up on a weekly basis and established distilleries producing increasingly wild and wacky recipes. However, along with the explosion of gins comes a problem for those making the stuff – how do you stand out in a crowded market? The Botanist has gone against the grain by keeping things traditional…up to a point.

A quick look through the 400 gins on the Whisky Exchange website shows one way of making yourself known – create a niche. It’s a high-risk move, but comparatively easy: find a...

I loved the first batch of this Tomatin 36 Year Old and now we can try Batch #2 . It is composed from first-fill Oloroso sherry butts and traditional American oak casks.

It is bottled at 46% but the distillery says it is ‘natural strength’ in some of their communications. Contrary to the first batch, this doesn’t seem to be a single vintage whisky.

Batch 2 has been given a different look, in the same bottle type as the rest of the core range, albeit housed in an oak presentation box with certificate. Funnily the wooden box is protected by...

I find it difficult to classify Linkwood whiskies. I’ve had some perfect 1970s fruit bombs from this distillery but also quite mediocre middle-aged bottlings. How about this Linkwood 1986 bottled by Sansibar …?

Linkwood 30 yo 1986 (41,4%, Sansibar 2016, 96 btl.)

Nose: it has got some kind of dusty tropical fruitiness. Melons, ripe grapefruit, touches of pineapple, also plain yellow apples. Hints of mint. Waxy notes too. Dandelions, orange blossom, moving towards more leafy notes and earthy touches. Hints of caramel. Subtle and elegant, but above-par complexity. Mouth: again a warm fruity profile, almost tropical. Peaches, melons,...

Another 25 year-old Auchroisk that seems very similar to this year’s Special Release . Actually we tried both directly against each other.

Auchroisk 25 yo 1991 (51,7%, Claxton’s 2016, bourbon hogshead #1604-7479, 280 btl.)

Nose: slightly narrower and grassier than the Special Release. That means a bit more grassy notes (towards hay) and missing the brightest top notes. Still very fresh, including the floral touches (lilac). Apples, pears and oranges. Hints of pineapple. Also honey and vanilla. Mouth: orchard fruits at its core, with more honey and less minty oak than in the Special Release. Tinned fruits, hints...

This is the new Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition (2016 release) which is starting to pop up in stores. It is matured in ex-bourbon casks and ‘double matured’ in Oloroso sherry casks.

Dalwhinnie 2000 ‘Distiller’s Edition’ (43%, OB 2016, Oloroso finish, ref. D.SX.312)

Nose: baked apple and honey, with subtle herbal undertones. Heather. Hints of hay and dusty wheat. Certainly not unpleasant, but a bit on the safe and silent side. Mouth: rather sweet and raisiny now, with hints of Spanish brandy. Cider apples. The sweetness makes place for nutty notes and soft spices. Fades on milk chocolate, and lots...

Glenmorangie The Quinta Ruban 12 YO, ABV The Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban was upgraded from a NAS (no age statement) whisky to a 12 YO in 2010. Here is the brief, official description of this whisky: “Quinta Ruban is Glenmorangie’s port finish. To craft this single malt they specially selected Port pipes from the Douro valley […]...

By Susannah Skiver Barton

We welcome two new single malts this week—one from India’s far north, and the other from Islay.

Rampur Indian Single Malt

Style: Single Maltwhisky Proof: 43% ABV Price: $70 Release: januari 2017 Availability: 12 states plus Washington, D.C. with expansion in the works

Need to know: Rampur joins Amrut and Paul John in the ranks of Indian single Maltwhisky. Unlike the other two brands, which both hail from India’s southern half, Rampur is made at the foot of the Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh.

Whisky Advocate says: We’ve been impressed with existing Indian single malts...

By Susannah Skiver Barton

America begins a new chapter in its history today with the inauguration of the 45 ^th President, Donald Trump. Whether celebrating or lamenting this event, you’re probably reaching for a bottle of whiskey, right?

If you want to stay on-theme with the day’s activities, now you can drink Presidential whiskeys. Conceived by Dave Schmier—who founded Redemption Rye , among other whiskey-related accomplishments—and alcohol distributor Michael Cherner of Ledroit Brands, One Term Presidential Dram Straight Rye and Two Term Presidential Dram Straight Bourbon were distilled at MGP in Indiana. The rye was aged for at least four...

Deanston 40 Year Old has been matured in refill casks and spent the last 40 years in Oloroso sherry butts . It is bottled at 45,6%, with just 480 bottles available for around € 1200, only in travel retail shops.

The packaging features textured metal labels, a leather-lined box and a Deanston coin recessed into the cork – used as the currency of the village in Deanston’s days as a cotton mill.

Following the release of Deanston Oloroso 20 Year Old back in 2015, the brand is steadily expanding and the new whisky is the brand’s oldest expression to date....

This is the last review from the latest batch of Elements of Islay releases . Not sure when we can expect a new batch. Until then, here’s the Laphroaig Lp7 .

Laphroaig Lp7 (52,8%, Elements of Islay 2016)

Nose: round, sweet with medium peat. Warm wood smoke, smoked bacon and vanilla, with a fragrant touch. Roasted fruits. Pepper and ginger too. Nothing to fault here. Mouth: sugary start again, followed by a blast of peat and light medicinal notes before returning to a sweet roundness. Salted caramel. Lemonade and baked banana. Sweet liquorice. Not complex, but the sweet...

Auchroisk  is another one of these distilleries that are rarely released as a single malt. In 1986 the distillery released The Singleton of Auchroisk , a 10 year old whisky that had been finished for two years in a sherry cask. Finishing is now a widespread practice, but it is believed to have originated there. A certain lack of know-how was noticeable, ahum, so the expression was withdrawn but the Singleton name was resurrected for a series that now includes different distilleries.

There has been a 20 Year Old bottling in 2010 and an Auchroisk 30 Year Old in 2012....