SMWS 10.85 Live life on the edge, 17 YO, 55,8 % Here is the second dram I had when visiting the Scotch Maltwhisky Society (SMWS) venue in London last week. The SMWS 10.85 Live life on the edge is a whisky distilled at Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay. This whisky was distilled 1998-04-30 and bottled in 2015. […]...

Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye, 45%, $39

I wasn’t that impressed with Mountain Laurel Spirits’ Dad’s Hat rye at first. Like other craft distillers, they had quite a learning curve to overcome. The first few bottlings I tasted were muddled, just not focused on what they wanted to be, and it was likely that the makers hadn’t decided what they wanted it to be yet.

When I first tasted this new bottling at the distillery, back in augusti, I could see that the whiskey had evolved. Although they have a small amount of straight whiskey aged in 53-gallon barrels, the main...

The 22 ^nd Annual Whisky Advocate Awards will be announced here  beginning this Friday, december 4 ^th . As the awards are announced, they will also be posted to the Whisky Advocate Facebook page and the Whisky Advocate Twitter feed ( @whiskyadvocate ).

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 22 ^nd year, the program is about the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners...

Region – a blend of regions majhaps – 46% ABV

Here we are, day 4 of the Advent calendar, and 21 more days to go!

Today in our glasses we have a Wemyss Malts-malt called “Velvet Fig.”

Aside from Wemyss Malts creating cracker after cracker, they come up with some inventive names to describe the whiskies they bottle.  “Velvet Fig” tells me that this dram should be soft, silky, perhaps a little sexy, rich, and comforting.

Bottled at 46%, it should be very approachable, too. While I generally stand by the motto of “Go Cask Strength or Go Home,” I will...

Region – Tennessee – 62.35% ABV (multiply by 2 to get “proof”, if you feel you need to. Or just keep it simple and use the more logical ABV system) – $89/bottle and only available at Gordon’s Fine Wines in Watham, MA.

Last night I did a seminar at Gordon’s Fine Wines in Watham (you know you’re pronouncing the town name right as when you say it, it sounds like you’re clearing your throat), Massachusetts.

I only recently (recent being this past mars) found out about Gordon’s because of my new job with ImpEx Beverages.  Gordon’s is an account...

Blended malt Scotch whisky – 43% ABV

My dirty little not-so-secret secret is that of all the independent bottlers out there, Samaroli is my favorite (albeit a bit on the expensive side here in the US).  Everything they do is quite intentional, and as an independent bottler myself, I find them to be inspiring.

When I saw this blended malt bottled at 43% I was intrigued to say the least.  Usually, I’m am turned right off at 43%, especially when it comes to independently bottled whiskies. However, this is Samaroli. I love them.  Plus, the combination of Glentauchers & BenRiach is...

Region – Highlands – 59.3% ABV

I consider myself lucky with the fact that I’ve had the supreme honor and pleasure to spend time with Mr. Stuart Nickerson, Managing Director of The Maltwhisky Company. I first met Stuart when he was with Glenglassaugh and I was starting my own independent bottling company.  It was right around this time, as well, that I was doing a fun series of interviews on this blog and Stuart was nice enough to say “yes” when I asked if he would mind me interviewing him.

To check out the interview, click here ....

Region – Speyside – 61% ABV

It’s december, no matter how hard certain members of the TWE blog team have been trying to deny it – Rocky ‘Krampus’ Lancer , we’re looking at you – Christmas is now definitely on the way. We’ve launched our Christmas page over on the website, but along with that we’ve got a couple of other great things to tell you about – #GoldenTicket and our annual Fine Spirits and Whisky Advent Calendar .

Our #GoldenTicket prize draw has returned, and we have five great prizes to give away, all whiskies that received awards in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 .

We have Jim’s...

We’ve had cask #9464 a couple of months ago. Both are selected by The Whisky Exchange from the Signatory Vintage stocks.

Glenlivet 33 yo 1981 (52,2%, Signatory Vintage for The Whisky Exchange 2015, refill sherry hogshead #9468, 154 btl.)

Nose: less sherried than #9464. That means more focus on the rich fruity side: apricots, stewed apples, dried banana and hints of pineapple. Some golden raisins. After a while I get some cardamom, and light hints of tobacco leaves and wet gravel come out. Mouth: rather soft and much drier now, but not in a tannic way (not yet)....

This is the latest 2015 release of the PX finished  Lagavulin Distiller’s Edition which is currently arriving in most stores.

Lagavulin 1999 ‘Distiller’s Edition’ (43%, OB 2015, PX finish, lgv. 4/504)

Nose: smooth peat in a perfect balance with raspberries, maple syrup and warm tobacco notes. Forest fruit chocolate cake, cinnamon and subtle coastal notes. This expression has become a little less sweet in the past few years, and I think it’s really excellent now. Mouth: rich, with more ashy peat than on the nose. Some tarry notes and earthy notes. Oranges, a hint of herbal honey, but again...

Sometimes I try old whisky that doesn’t really seem to fit the distillery profile or reviews that I find. A dodgy review today: Glen Albyn 1968 bottled by Gordon & MacPhail .

Glen Albyn 1968 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 1991)

Nose: fairly neutral. Apples, oranges, grassy notes. A little pepper. Hints of furniture wax, which is nice, but also wet cardboard. A dusty, even slightly peaty touch as well. Mouth: sweeter than expected, orange juice, yellow plums and vanilla cream. Some smooth grainy notes. Closer to an old blend, I’d say. Finish: not too long and...

After the initial maturation, the Talisker Distillers Editions are given a finishing period in Amoroso casks (Diageo doesn’t mention the word ‘sherry’ so they maj come from elsewhere in Spain). The last one we tried was the Distillers Edition 2001/2012 – here’s the new one bottled in 2015.

Talisker 2005 ‘Distillers Edition’ (45,8%, OB 2015, Amoroso finish, TD-S: 5RD)

Nose: brine and other maritime notes up front, with touches of sour pickles. Apple juice, red berries, raisins and orange zest. Mild peat smoke but not as clear as in other Talisker expressions. Not as warm either. Whiffs of...

It was only last week when the members of Laphroaig maling list received a letter from John Campbell, the distillery manager, with a full summary of what happened in Laphroaig during 2015, the 200th anniversary year. In addition, in the letter John wrote we can expect a new expression to hit the shelves in Spring 2016, and and a few details were already revealed.

The new expression will be called Laphroaig Lore , and will it be bottled at 48%.

On the label it says: “Liquid drawn from a selection of aged casks has crafted a rich and deep malt with distinctive smoke, peat...

Longrow RED 12 is the 4th installment in the Longrow RED series. I had reviewed the first one on the blog (right here ) and liked it a lot. I also happened to taste the 3rd one (full maturation in port casks) and here comes the new one which deviate from the 11 years formula with additional one year as it’s 12 Year old.

But it’s not the only noteworthy change. Previous editions were fully matured (port cask) or finished for a couple of years (4 years for Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 years for the Australian Shiraz) and this 2015 edition is finished...

Abhainn Dearg, NAS, 46 % Another first for me today. I have finally tasted a whisky from Abhainn Dearg. This is the most Westerly distillery in Scotland, located on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides. The name of the distillery, Abhainn Dearg, is pronounced ‘Aveen Jarræk’. Production started in 2008, and […]...