The Caroni rum distillery has been distilling in Trinidad and Tobago from 1918 until 2002, when it was closed due to industry consolidation. They still had an estimated 5300 casks of aged rum some ten years ago and lately many of these found their way to independent whisky bottlers that were looking at more affordable spirits (pioneered by the Italian importers Velier ).

Not a sexy distillery, I’m afraid

We’re trying a brand-new Caroni 1997 in the Liquid Art series (probably a split cask) and we’ve found a sparring partner in the Caroni 1997 bottled by The Whisky...

It’s just a couple of weeks until 4 juli – Independence Day – and to celebrate, we’ve selected some of our favourite whiskies , all ideal if you’re planning a party, whether you’re in the US or not. We’ve chosen whiskies from across the globe – smooth bourbons, complex Scotch, whisky from the Far East and a mix of ages and prices, so you’re sure to find something good.

BOURBON

First up, two great bourbons from Blanton’s . Blanton’s Original is an award-winning textbook example – each bottle is filled from a single unblended cask. The Gold Edition is sensational,...

‘Islay is the eighth wonder of the world’

Colin Dunn knows how to open a whisky tasting. While invoking wonder-dom for Islay maj seem hyperbolic, there are some tasting line-ups that justify such comments – our Lagavulin 200th Anniversary tasting was certainly one of those.

While Lagavulin is hugely popular among whisky aficionados, there are surprisingly few expressions available on the market. The core range consist of just two whiskies – Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Lagavulin Distillers Edition . Add to that the yearly 12-year-old Special Release and you’ve still only got three whiskies. Our original plan of putting...

This is the relatively new version of Bunnahabhain 18 Years. The distillery owners Burn Stewart ditched the caramel colouring and chill-filtration and upped the strength to 46.3% around 2012 if I’m not mistaken.

Matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks, proportions unknown.

Bunnahabhain 18 yo (46,3%, OB +/- 2016)

Nose: such a nice surprise. Really nice dried apricots, with a leathery hint and some dusty notes that I really like. Highly elegant sherry influence. Cinnamon and red berries. Honey coated nuts and butter pastry. Rich, velvety with a light coastal touch. Beautiful. Mouth: similar thoughts. Fairly...

Brown Forman announced the release of  Woodford Reserve Five Malt,  the latest expression in Woodford’s Distillery Series. Five Malt is distilled from a malt mash, aged in used double oaked barrels for 6 months, and bottled at 45.2%. It is available for purchase at Woodford Reserve distillery and select Kentucky retailers with a suggested retail price of $50/375 ml. See the press release included below for details.

Woodford Reserve Releases Latest Distillery Series Expression:  Five Malt

Whiskey distilled from malt mash showcases continued innovation

LOUISVILLE, Ky., juni 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Woodford Reserve unveils the most recent release in its Distillery Series...

The richest Laphroaig ever! That’s quite a claim for the new Laphroaig Lore . It is named after the skills passed down over the generations and is the unofficial replacement for the discontinued Laphroaig 15 and Laphroaig 18 . An annual batch should appear from now on.

Laphroaig Lore is a marriage of six different whiskies. On Twitter they revealed that the whiskies in this vatting are 7 to 21 years old , with 3 more ages in between.

• 9 yo spirit matured in quarter casks and finished in virgin European oak hogsheads
• 9 yo spirit matured in re-used...

Mackmyra Special 01 Eminent Sherry, NAS, 51,6 % This whisky was the first release in the Mackmyra Special series. It was released late 2008. It was matured in sherry casks (Spanish oak, seasoned with sherry by Mackmyra). The Mackmyra Special 01 Eminent Sherry was sold at around SEK 600 when it was released. It is no […]...

Euro 2016 is under way and if the weekend’s games are a guide, we’re in for a great tournament. Here at TWE, we maj not be football experts, but we do know a thing or two about what to drink, so we thought we’d create some match-ups of our own with some great bottles based on this week’s fixtures.

Mon 13 april

Belgium v Italy

A mouthwatering clash from Group E, with stars aplenty. For this match-up, we’ve paired a vermouth from each country: Forest Vermouth , made by Belgian sommelier Jurgen Lijcops, and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino , made...

ACLA de Fans is a taxfree shopping centre in Switzerland , close to the Austrian and Italian borders, with a focus on whisky and interesting prices. They are regularly presenting exclusive bottlings in partnership with The Whisky Agency .

Their latest release is this Cragganmore 2004 .

Cragganmore 12 yo 2004 (54,6%, The Whisky Agency & Acla da Fans 2016, bourbon hogshead, 180 btl.)

Nose: where are my sunglasses? Typical young, fruity Speyside whisky, with lots of pears and apple juice, gooseberries and a nice fatty side. Hints of vanilla custard. Subtle minty notes and sunflower oil. Mouth:...

The Dalmore Luceo is part of a no-age-statement travel retail range named The Fortuna Merita Collection . Each of the four expressions is finished in different types of sherry casks seasoned with sherry from Bodegas González Byass . The partnership between Dalmore and this bodega go back more than 100 years.

The Dalmore Regalis is finished in Amoroso sherry (a sweetened Oloroso), The Dalmore Luceo in first-fill Apostoles sherry (a sweetened 30yo Palo Cortado), and The Dalmore Dominium in first-fill Matusalem sherry (30yo sweetened Oloroso). Valour combines Matusalem casks and Port pipes.

The series was launched late 2014 but was recently...

Claxton’s The Single Cask Auchroisk 1991 (25 year old) 51.2%

Bourbon Hogshead 1604-7479/ Dist: Apr 1991 Btl: Apr 2016/ Tasted: maj 2016

A beguiling nose of perfumed white fruit and tropical apricot, melon and luscious honey. Hints of freshening lime and gooseberry appear along with some light, dusty oak, herbs and malt biscuits. With time it becomes crisper and more barley focused with a touch of orange blossom.

The palate is hugely tropical and barley’d with creamy oak, lime, banana, apricot and melon. A serious fruit monster and a lovely mouthful! The alcohol balances the sweetness but it’s almost buried...

Coopers Choice Ardmore No Age Statement ‘Heavily Peated’ 46%

Bourbon Cask 884/ Dist: ? Btl: 2015(?)/ Tasted: maj 2016

I’m somewhat confused. Why bottle a single cask without an age statement? Yes, it’s young, probably no older than 5 or 6 years, but it has some lovely, slightly perfumed white fruit, unsweetened pineapple and banana with hints of coal dust and rubber.

The palate is a fairly watery and underpowered with hints of estery apricot, pineapple and banana. Very softly peated with hints of herbs and sweet barley. Long with lingering dry peat and spice. Someone has a funny definition...