Armorik Classic – Whisky Breton Single Malt, NAS, 46 % We will today continue our series of reviews of whisky from Distillerie Warenghem, France. The Armorik Classic – Whisky Breton Single Malt has been around a few years. This is a No Age Statement (NAS) whisky that has been matured in a mix of 1st fill and refill […]...

The best part of waking up, is whiskey in your cup!

People have been putting whiskey in coffee (and tea) for a long time. It probably goes back to…oh, I’m guessing here, but probably about 20 minutes after the first time whiskey and brewed coffee were in close proximity. If it took that long. The Irish Coffee (which gets the David Wondrich Treatment in the Summer issue of Whisky Advocate ) is a classic all-in-one real-to-life cocktail with coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream, but most people just do what my old boss at the Timberline Bar used to do:...

Region — Campbeltown — 46% ABV

Springbank 15yo is a whisky that I find myself revisiting over and over and over again.  I think it’s perhaps one of my favorite whiskies, like… ever.

While I maj revisit it many times over, I’ve not revisited it from a let-me-disect-it-and-post-it-on-my-blog point of view.  I just spend a lot of time enjoying it.  Isn’t that what whisky is all about anyway? Enjoyment?

The last time I reviewed Springbank 15yo was juni 17, 2011

So, here we are almost 4 years later.  Let’s see what the 2015 version is like.

On the nose —...

This is the fourth bottling for the Limburg Dramclub . Buying this bottle makes you a member and gets you a ticket for the next Whisky Fair and a 5% online discount during a year. See www.dailydram.de

Although the label simply says Irish malt 2009 , the spirit was supposedly produced at Cooley distillery (which makes it Tyrconnell).

Irish malt 6 yo 2009 (51,4%, Limburg Dramclub 2015, barrel, 141 btl.)

Nose: green Irish notes (pears, lemons, a little banana skin) but generally much grassier and grainier than the ones produced at Bushmills. Subtle whiffs of nail polish remover...

Wemyss announced a new selection of single malts. There’s Bowmore 1995, Blair Athol 1991 and Glenrothes 1993 but we’ll try the Mortlach 1995, Aberfeldy 1999 and this Benriness 2001 ‘Rhubarb Royale’.

Benrinnes 2001 ‘Rhubarb Royale’ (46%, Wemyss Malts 2014, hogshead, 425 btl.)

Nose: a rather naked but fairly aromatic nose. Lots of juicy fruits, apple compote, pears, indeed some rhubarb jam as well. Yellow raisins and red berries. Hints of vanilla biscuits and honey. A few beer-like notes as well. Mouth: bright and sweet again, with stewed fruits and wine gums. A bit youngish alright, but very pleasant....

I’m not sure they are the best whiskies I’ve ever tasted, but some of them are close, and I still feel there’s something special about Brora 30 Year Old . When I started with whisky almost ten years ago, I thought of these bottles as the holy grails.

I can’t stop thinking Brora has been surpassed (in terms of collectability or auction values) by other legends like Karuizawa, The Macallan or Port Ellen. It’s less in the spotlight than it once was, or so it seems. Yet I still think it’s the connoisseurs choice with the most unique character.

I...

Glenmorangie Signet, NAS, 46 % At Bergen International Whisky & Beer Festival I decided to try Glenmorangie Signet. This is what the distillery says about the whisky: A fusion of unique and rare elements, and clouded in secrecy, Signet is the culmination of a lifetime’s experience. A blend of our oldest whisky – distilled over […]...

I’ve already tried the Glenfarclas 1971 cask #140 from the same series and Glenfarclas 1971 cask #148 for Silver Seal , all bottled in the same year.

Glenfarclas 40 yo 1971 (51%, OB Family Cask VII 2011, sherry butt #150, 468 btl.)

Nose: very vibrant – the sherry is big but not too loud. Plenty of plums, redcurrants and raspberry jam. Lovely polished oak. A little vanilla and treacle toffee. Rum & raisins. Very light hints of lemon candles. Very seductive. Mouth: fresh, again a really nice fruitiness of red berries, juicy plums and a little cranberry juice....

An undisclosed Islay Malt 2007 in the Liquid Treasures series. Other bottlers have released similar casks with a Kildalton reference (e.g. Kildalton 2007 Archives ). So let’s keep it at Ardbeg again?

Islay Malt 7 yo 2007 (51,9%, Liquid Treasures 2014, bourbon barrel, 159 btl.)

Nose: lots of smoked fish, peated malt and clean lemony notes. A bit of tar and burnt heather. Roasted notes, like coffee and almonds. Clean and focused, but there’s a nice fat roundness to it (vanilla custard), as well as a mentholated edge. Mouth: quite sweet (vanilla syrup, pears and wine gums) before...

Ardbeg Perpetuum Distillery Release, NAS, 49,2 % 2015 is a bit year on Islay. Two distilleries, Ardbeg and Laphroaig, celebrate their 200 year anniversary! Both distilleries have promised to celebrate in style, and release a number of special bottlings. The Ardbeg Perpetuum Distillery Release Bicentenary Committee Release (long name!) is the first special from Ardbeg. […]...

Springbank 25 YO (2014), 46 % A rather exclusive whisky on the test bench today; the Springbank 25 YO (2014). This whisky was launched in december 2014, and the official release notice from Springbank Distillery reads: This has been matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks before being married in port casks for […]...

…I only wish I could be there!  

Here’s the skinny on a great whisky event with Louisa Young of Isle of Arran and James Wills of Kilchoman distilleries, happening on april 2nd, at The Daily Pint in Santa Monica, CA:

 

KILCHOMAN & ARRAN Educational Party

Thursday april 2nd, 2015 @ 7pm – 10pm

The Daily Pint in Santa Monica

Springbank 12 Years Cask Strength is matured in a combination of 70% sherry and 30% bourbon casks. The latest batch n°10 was bottled at 53,2%.

Its malt is first dried over a peat fire and then over hot air.

Springbank 12 yo ‘Cask Strength’ (53,2%, OB 2014, Batch 10, ref. 14/532)

Nose: typical Springbank notes like leather and wet chalk, with some zesty grapefruit and brine. Hints of grass. Sharp lemon. Some medicinal notes and smoke. There is however a rounder side to it, a bit of vanilla and dried coconut flakes. Mouth: surprisingly honeyed now. Sweet mint...