Mr. Rye Straight Rye Whisky, 3 YO, 45 % Here we are then, with the second release from Polish producers Kozuba & Sons Distillery. This time I am putting the Mr. Rye Straight Rye Whisky to the test. The mashbill here states 100 % rye malt. It has been matured for three years in fresh American oak barrels. […]...

Braunstein 15:1, 7 YO, 46 % It has been a while since last I reviewed a whisky from Danish distillery Braunstein. Time to make amends then. Here we have the Braunstein 15:1, one of their (typically) two annual Library Collection releases. This is an unpeated whisky, with a limited run of 1000 bottles. This whisky […]...

When Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge retired last year, he wasn’t the first master distiller to retire before his career was truly over. Woodford Reserve’s Lincoln Henderson retired from Brown-Forman and then started Angel’s Envy. Now, Rutledge joins the extremely rare crop of Kentucky blue blood master distillers to leave the corporate ranks and start his own distillery, which he announced yesterday. Read the Whisky Advocate blog story.

Fred Minnick caught up with Rutledge to discuss his past and new venture.

First, let’s discuss Four Roses. After you retired, speculation surfaced that you were pushed out as Four Roses master...

Vermouth has long been the secret weapon of a good bartender. They know that a dash can transform a cocktail, adding complexity and depth, as well as a refreshing, bittersweet character. Vermouth’s other strong suit is its versatility – as well as a blending partner in a cocktail, it can be served on the rocks or mixed into a long drink with great effect.

Five facts about vermouth

• vermouth is an aromatised fortified wine, made by adding botanicals to wine which has had spirit added to it
• it can be red, white or rosé
• it must have an ABV of...

Here’s some news about upcoming releases. We start with the blended malt Compass Box Enlightenment .

“By law, we’re not allowed to tell customers the age of the component whiskies used to create Enlightenment. We can tell you that Enlightenment is a blend of malt whiskies from the Clynelish , Glentauchers , Balblair and Mortlach distilleries. We can tell you that you will find a bright apple and pear quality on the nose, soft spice and light citrus fruit notes on the palate with a mouth-watering finish full of an alluring apple peel waxiness. We can tell you the...

I’ve reviewed quite a few Laphroaig expressions already but everyone kept telling me I should try Laphroaig 18 Year Old . In 2009 it was launched as the replacement for the  Laphroaig 15 Year Old, which returned in 2015 . Apparently this was a sign for Laphroaig to phase out the 18 Year Old.

The 18 has always been available in very limited quantities and this led to a lot of speculation about its termination. In some shops it is already listed as ‘discontinued’ so remaining stocks will probably be gone in the near future.

Laphroaig 18 yo...

This Caol Ila 1984 bottled by Cadenhead was selected by their Belgian importer The Nectar to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Simultaneously Cadenhead released a second Caol Ila 1984 that was 31 years old.

Although this bottling bears the black Small Batch label (normally used for bottlings from two or three casks), it seems to be a single cask release.

Caol Ila 32 yo 1984 (52,9%, Cadenhead Small Batch for The Nectar 2016, 10th Anniversary, bourbon hogshead, 234 btl.)

Nose: mineral and slightly dusty start, with lots of wet ashes, as well as subtle hints of antiseptics. Becomes fruitier, showing nectarines,...

Here we are again then. Time for the release of new whiskies in Norway. They go on sale on Friday maj 6 at 8 AM. We have 48 new releases this time around, and quite a few interesting ones. I am particularly keen on the Highland Park Ice Edition, the Clynelish 1997, the Springbank 16 YO Local […]...

Jim Rutledge, former master distiller of Four Roses, announced today his plan to build, “… a modern, highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable distillery near Louisville, Ky.”   Jim retired from Four Roses in september 2015. According to the press release, a 30-day crowd funding campaign will commence in maj to kick off the endeavor Jim, along with two friends and business associates, have initiated. Details are available on the J.W. Rutledge distillery website. The distillery’s website offers the opportunity to vote on the first JW Rutledge-labeled bourbon’s mashbill. Plans include distillation of, “very high quality” Kentucky straight bourbons, a wheated bourbon, and to have a...

Today, Brown-Forman announced their agreement to purchase the BenRiach Distillery Company for approximately £285 million ($416 million) as reported in  Shanken News Daily . This acquisition will add three single malt scotch whisky brands to Brown-Forman’s portfolio: BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh. Included in the purchase are three malt distilleries, a botttling plant, brand trademarks, and the BenRiach company headquarters located in Edinburgh, Scotland. The transaction is expected to be complete on or about juni 1st of this year.

Paul Varga, Brown-Forman chief executive officer, stated, “T he acquisition of these super premium brands will allow Brown-Forman to re-enter one of our industry’s most exciting...

Our latest prize draw is big in more ways than one! We’re offering one customer the chance to win a huge 15-litre bottle of Champagne. Simply buy a 75cl bottle of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a nebuchadnezzar worth £1,350 – equivalent to 20 bottles and containing enough fizz to fill more than 100 glasses.

First released in 1869, Moët’s Brut Impérial is the world’s bestselling non-vintage Champagne. Made with the three traditional Champagne grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay), it is soft and fruity, and perfect for any...

It’s a mere coincidence that we’re trying a GlenDronach and now BenRiach , just as the distilleries (together with the third sister Glenglassaugh) have been sold to Brown-Forman , the American group which manages Jack Daniels, Woodford Reserve , Herredura and Jimador tequila, Chambord liqueur and other brands. In the past they have been involved in Glenmorangie as well, but all shares were sold in 2005.

I have the impression the sale causes worries among whisky enthusiasts: the independent consortium around Billy Walker did an incredible job putting their distilleries on the map over the past twelve years. It remains...

This is a rare official Glen Moray 1966 , a single cask bottled in the early 1990s.

Glen Moray 26 yo 1966 (43%, OB 1992, 255 btl.)

Nose: very juicy, fragrant sherry. Lots of peaches and melons, some vaguely tropical touches as well. Rose petals with paraffin and whiffs of Nivea cream. Bergamot and Neroli. Plenty of waxed floors and leather too. Fruity and aromatic, rather feminine actually. Mouth: classic sherried whisky, with a big fruity side again – berries, plums, dried apricots, lots of oranges. Light banana. Hints of vanilla and eucalyptus honey. A peppery note and...

Prologue Limited Edition, 3 YO, 43 % I am quiet excited to try the first Polish single Maltwhisky. The Prologue Limited Edition is made by the Kosuba & Sons Distillery from Jabłonka near Nidzica in Masuria, Poland. Their webpage is just a place holder page for now, but it is still way cool, if you […]...

Box Whisky The 2nd Step Collection 01, 4 YO, 51,1 % Swedish distiller Box Whisky have now launched the first whisky in their brand new series. Over the past two years they have released the four whiskies in The Early Days Collection (The Pioneer, The Challenger, The Explorer, and The Messenger). Now they are starting a […]...

Whisky from The Glenlivet is known for its generous, fruity style, but did you know that in the past, its spirit was always lightly peated? The Speyside distillery has just launched the third bottling in its ongoing Nàdurra range, following the First Fill and Oloroso expressions. The new whisky was finished in casks that used to contain heavily peated whisky, which wraps a subtle layer of smoke around the fruit.

Alan Winchester, master distiller at The Glenlivet

Glenlivet’s master distiller Alan Winchester said that the distillery only started to phase out its use of peat after World War II, when...