August 2012

Glenrothes 24 yo 1984/2008 Jack Wiebers

August 31, 2012

If you ever wondered why some distilleries don’t like their name on independent bottlings, this forgettable whisky from a dead cask gives you the answer. – Rating: 64/100

Whisky Luxe Edinburgh – 50ml For A Bag Of Gold?

August 30, 2012

On Friday 7th September Edinburgh will see Whisky Luxe, the newest member of Whisky Magazine’s Whisky Live family. This new format is supposed to be an upmarket extension of the existing festivals to give you “the ultimate VIP experience”.

Grant’s Stand Fast

August 29, 2012
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The intriguing nose needs some time, and even at 40% ABV the palate benefits from a few drops of water. A nice crisp dram, though most components are quite young. The finish is over rather soon, unfortunately. – Rating: 78/100

Isle of Skye 8 yo

August 28, 2012
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Not really an unpleasant blend, but the flavours are just a bit too generic to lift it significantly above the major brands that sell for less. – Rating: 72/100

The 10 Weirdest Whisky Cocktails

August 27, 2012
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You may know by now that I am not afraid of using whisky in cocktails, but I prefer the classics. Here are some rather strange concoctions I have come across.

Sexist Whisky Ads

August 26, 2012
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Old whisky ads ofthen show off gender stereotypes. Here are a few examples

Glenlivet 12 yo Unblended All Malt

August 26, 2012
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Very dense flavours here that are difficult to dissect. This is rather different from today’s 12 yo, much drier and a little less fruity. Very good stuff. – Rating: 86/100

Did You Know? US Whisky Does Not Have To Be Matured In Casks

August 25, 2012
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One of the lesser known pleasures of a whisky blogger who takes his thing seriously is diving into the legalese of whisky laws and regulations.

Ballantine’s 17 yo

August 25, 2012
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The strong points of this high-quality blend are the wonderful nose and the very long finish. But also the palate manages to convince a dedicated malthead that blends can be delicious too. – Rating: 85/100

Does Whisky Have A Gender?

August 23, 2012

“Whisky is a man’s drink.” This is probably one the most commonly used stereotypes in the whisky world. But is it really true?

Invergordon 18 yo 1993/2011 SMWS G5.3

August 23, 2012

For a change the SMWS tag line is not bursting of creativity, but it is spot on. The palate feels like an amplified version of the nose, the quality is unusually high for a grain whisky of this medium age. – Rating: 90/100

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel

August 14, 2012
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The nose is massive, the palate a bit more subtle but far from bland and boring. Overall a surprisingly delicate but delicious bourbon. – Rating: 85/100

Glenfiddich Millennium Vintage

August 12, 2012
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Very delightful on the nose, the palate suffers a bit from the low bottling strength. It certainly is a step up from the regular 12 yo, though. – Rating: 81/100

Vanilla Ice Cream With Maple Glazed Bourbon Walnuts

August 11, 2012
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Maple syrup, walnuts and bourbon are a match made in heaven. Here is a recipe for an an ice cream topping that is just about perfect for vanilla flavour.

Glencadam 10 yo

August 10, 2012
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A very pleasant entry-level malt from a distillery often overlooked, approachable and well-balanced with a nice mixture of fruity and spicy flavours. – Rating: 84/100

Fettercairn Fior

August 8, 2012
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This sherried dram is quite spicy with a strong and flavourful initial punch. But it is not overly complex, and the finish is surprisingly short. – Rating: 83/100

Glenturret 10 yo

August 6, 2012
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Quite a nice daily dram with a pleasant flavour profile, a slightly longer finish would have lifted it to the 80 point mark. – Rating: 78/100

The Magic Copper Cauldron

August 4, 2012
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A closer look at pot still whisky distillation.

Bowmore 16 yo 1995/2012 Adelphi

August 3, 2012

The palate is almost on par with the fantastic nose, a very richly flavoured dram with strong fruity and spicy notes. – Rating: 88/100

Aberlour 10 yo

August 1, 2012
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A surprisingly strong density of flavours makes this a very enjoyable sherried entry level dram. – Rating: 84/100