This week we’ll have a direct comparison each day: two or three bottlings from the same distillery and age / vintage, recently released by different independent bottlers.

As you know, casks are often sold in large lots and they are then shared / distributed among related bottlers. My Malt Maniacs article from 2011 is still relevant, I guess. majbe even more so: as (older) whisky becomes ever more rare and expensive, smaller bottlers are struggling to find available (decent) casks, so they are increasingly forced to jump on the same wagons.

We’ll start with BenRiach 1990 , bottled by Sansibar and...

This whisky was distilled at the Bunnahabhain distillery in 1976 and bottled in Jim McEwan’s Celtic Heartlands range in 2010. Matured for almost all of its 33 years in Fino sherry casks, it was ACE’d or finished in Château d’Yquem casks.

Bunnahabhain 33 yo 1976 (49%, Murray McDavid ‘Celtic Heartlands’ 2010, Fino casks & Château d’Yquem finish, 465 btl.)

Nose: slightly austere but beautiful nose, with leafy notes, walnuts and hints of shoe polish. Mint and thyme. Some banana, apricot and gooseberry, but the fruitiness is on a second level here. Some leather and sweet mossy notes. Elegant...

The very new Port Askaig 16 Year Old is a combination of bourbon- and sherry-cask-aged whisky. Replacing the popular 15 year old, this should be big, bold and peaty Caol Ila. Remember there are multiple distilleries in the current Port Askaig line-up, so you never know.

Port Askaig 16 yo (45,8%, Speciality Drinks 2015)

Nose: rather excellent. The peat seems more mature and subtle than the age suggests. Herbal honey, hints of tobacco and leafy / mossy notes. Sweet, fruity notes (dried figs) and almonds from the sherry casks. Hints of barbecue embers and sweet olives. Excellent indeed....

Following Yesterdays review of the single cask Glendronach, I thought it will be a good idea to bring you an example of a true sherry bomb. If you recall from that review, I said that it felt a bit lighter than a true sherry bomb so today I bring you a review of 100% sherry bomb.

I was debating between two possible reviews but this morning on twitter there was a small discussion on awful sherried Benrinnes whiskies and just like that the die was cast for me as one of the options is an explosive sherried Benrinnes and that should mend...

A quick review without a lengthy introduction or musings: A Glendronch single cask bottling from 1995. An exclusive bottling for The Whisky Exchange, aged 19yo and packing a 55.4% punch. Gotta be a good sherry bomb, right?

Glendronach 1995 19 yo PX Puncheon TWE Exclusive (55.4%,  £110 )

Nose : Yummy! Starts with a heavy PX influence but after a minute you realize it’s not your ordinary sherry bomb. It’s lighter on the red dark fruit front. Instead there are lots of fresh and sweet fruit, sultanas, soaked raisins and dates. There’s a good punch of sherry spices, cinnamon, cloves and some sweet...

What do whisky geeks look for in a whisky? There are a few possible answers to this question but I think there’s one answer that will resonate true with most: Deeper understanding and new Information on what impacts and builds whisky taste.

Think about it for a moment: What impacts taste and flavor in whisky? We know that barley variant, yeast type, fermentation time (and vessels), still shape, heart cut and casks – all those impact flavor so it’s no wonder that we geeks love masterclasses, special whisky releases and aids that help us deconstruct whisky – to gain a better understanding of how it works and...

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Chibidaru 53.5%

Dist: 2010 Btl: 2014

Tasted: Jan 2015

Nose: Quite citric and grainy with hints of wheat flakes and herbal rye-like notes. Young and intense with an almost saline astringency. A very light hint of sultana and white grape appears and with time a touch of toffee coated banana. Water brings out the fragrant honey and soft barley.

Palate: A little tart and astringent with herbal rye-like notes and menthol. Subdued oak and fleshy fruit sit beneath but the alcohol masks any further development. Water makes it simpler, emphasising the light toffee and honey but there...

Carn Mor Black Gold Series Highland Park 1995 (20 year old) 54%

Sherry Hogshead 2475/ Dist: Nov 1995 Btl: Aug 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2015

The aromas are pretty tannic and gritty but softened by some luscious dark treacle. The dried fruit notes are very Armagnac-esque with prune, berries, raisin and dried citrus rind. Gritty smoke and French coffee notes appear with time. Yes, it’s very heavy on the sherry but there is plenty going on here!

Quite subtly smoked on the palate with the tannins appearing lighter and softer than the nose would lead you to believe. Again it displays...

Wild Turkey Rye 40.5%

Tasted: Sept 2015

Sour fruit with hints of fragrant, violety herbs, silky but lightly grippy vanilla oak on the nose. Some softly herbal rye begins to emerge along with a touch of sweet rye. With time it becomes very perfumed.

The palate is soft and easy going. Quite juicy with hints of sour fruit and herbal rye. Gentle spices emerge on the middle along with some creamy oak. Very moist and majbe a little too perfumed with hints of earth, liquorice, violets and coffee. Some grippy tannins come through in the finish, which try to offset...

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Westport 1997 (17 year old) 46%

Glenmorangie vatted with a teaspoon of Glen Moray.

Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: 1997 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2015

Soft and juicy aromas of fragrant barley, floral honey and a touch of citrus. Subtly but sweetly spiced with hints of buttery/ creamy oak.

The palate is broad, full and barley’d. Slightly sweet and generously endowed in the fruit department with hints of citrus and sweet spices. Long, citrus and mineral finish which cleanses the palate. Pleasant lightly coffee’d after-taste. In conclusion it is a little too expensive (£58.95) for what it is....

Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask Mortlach 1995 (20 year old) 55.5%...

Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glentauchers 2010 (5 year old) 46%...

Highland Laird Williamson 2006 (8 year old) 46%

Bourbon

Dist: 2006 Btl: 2015/ Tasted: Aug 2015

Named after a remarkable woman called Bessie Williamson, who became the manager of a certain Islay distillery when it was un-mothballed after the end of WWII.

The nose is very buttery and oaky with plenty of sweet and herbal peat. The oak calms down with time and an almost Tequila-esque pulped white fruit note becomes apparent along with hints of rhubarb, manure, cut grass and a faint whiff of aniseed and biscuity spirit notes.

The palate is full and biscuity with malt and plenty...

Highland...

Highland...

Highland Laird Macallan 1995 (15 year old) ?abv

Dist: 1995 Btl: 2015

Aromas of gorgeously dusty American oak – vanilla pod and custard powder. Hints of summer flowers, herbal honey, malt and earth follow. With time the aromas darken a little and become very herbal. Hints of acacia and white liquorice appear.

The palate is succulent and moist with honey, apricot, apple, malt and vanilla pod. Like the nose it becomes quite herbal and the alcohol begins to nip a little. Good length with the barley and vanilla lingering.

A drop of water unfortunately brings out the oils to the...

Stauning Peated 1st Edition, 3 YO, 63,8 % I am continuing to work my way through older releases of Nordic whisky, and today I have reached the first ever peated release from Danish distillery Stauning. The Stauning Peated 1st Edition was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2012. A total outturn of 715 bottles at 50 […]...