The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated is the latest release from the GlenDronach distillery in the East Highland hills. The name, Traditionally Peated comes from the time that it was traditional practice in the Highlands to burn peat in the kiln towards the end of the barley malting. The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated is a whisky matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry and port casks. Master Blender, Dr. Rachel Barrie said: “The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated offers connoisseurs a rare opportunity to explore the distillery’s rich depths of sherry cask maturation, whilst ..read more

Today online whisky shop TheWhiskyBarrel.com announces their ow range of single Cask Scotch Whisky, TWB ORIGINALS. Unique single cask releases, exclusively available at The Whisky Barrel. They’ve worked with food and drinks writer Rosalind Erskine to present a small introduction video of each release. So let’s take a look at the first four new releases. Bunnahabhain 10 Year Old 2009 TWB ORIGINALS was distilled in September 2009 and matured for 10 years in a 1st fill Oloroso Sherry hogshead. 292 bottles are available, bottled at 57,1% ABV. You can order the Bunnahabhain here. Cameronbridge 37 ..read more

As you’ve might have noticed if you follow me on YouTube I’ve started a new chapter in my whisky exploration journey. I’ve started Blind Tastings. What went into it and how can I describe this as a true blind tasting experience you might wonder. From almost every bottle of whisky I have I filled up a sample bottle marked by a Letter + 3 digit number code. This will give me 25974 different options. A number I doubt I will ever fill up. Whenever I fill up a new sample I will use Letterdice and Siri, first to select a random letter, and then a random 3 digit number. This code I will safe with t ..read more

In 2017 Wemyss Malts released the Nectar Grove whisky, a blended Malt whisky finished in Madeira wine casks. This year it’s time for its stronger brother, the Wemyss Malts Nectar Grove Batch Strength. This whisky is created with a variety of whiskies from Highland distilleries, as these are blended together and then finished for a period of time in Madeira wine casks. This Batch Strength version is bottled at the strength the bottlers found to best suit the moreish stone fruit and nutty flavours of the whisky (54% ABV). Nectar Grove Batch Strength William Wemyss, Founder and Managing Directo ..read more

This month Bruichladdich launches their Octomore 10 series. Heavily Peated whiskies is how we know the Octomore releases, and this year it’s not different, though the numbers might be a little bit lower than what we’ve seen the last couple years. Let’s take a look at all the 4 new releases. Octomore 10.1 is a whisky distilled from Scottish barley in 2013. The whisky matured for 5 years in ex-American oak casks and bottled at 59,8% ABV. It combines smoke with modest maturation. You can pre-order the Octomore 10.1 at The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange. Octomore 10.2 is the brand’s Travel Re ..read more

This week the Islay distillery released three new whiskies in the Bruichladdich Barley Exploration Series. These whiskies focus on the start of every whisky, the barley. We live in a world where we mass produce our food focussing on yield, and most of the barley used by the distilleries is standerd barley, the same for every distillery. And that’s where Bruichladdich is trying to do things differently. They work together with farmers so they can discover the different variaties of barley as well as what the influence of provenance brings to the whisky. The first new release is the Bruichladdic ..read more

In this weeks whisky review we will taste the Highland Park 18 Years Old. A sherry matured expression from the Highland Park distillery of Orkney. A well known whisky which received many awards over the years, but this time we will see what I personally think of it. Recently Highland Park has rebranded this expression to the new name “Highland Park 18YO Viking Pride, the liquid has stayed the same though from here on the whisky will be released in batches. The Highland Park 18 YO is bottled in natural colour at 43% ABV. Colour: Dark gold Nose: Ripe oranges, raisins, honey, and a small hint of ..read more

Earlier this year Balblair announced a complete new range of whiskies. This time with age statements in stead of vintages. The standard range consist now of a 12, 15, 18 and 25YO. Make sure to check out my article introducing them. Today we will taste and review the 12YO. The Balblair 12 is matured in American oak ex-bourbon & double-fired American oak casks, and bottled at 46% ABV in natural colour and withour chill filtration. Colour: Hay Nose: Chocolate, oranges, vanilla, and hint of lemon, and some light candystore notes. I also get heather on the nose. Palate: A little bit spicy, w ..read more

It’s not often I get to taste whiskies that are older than me, but this week’s whisky is. Today I will taste the Fettercairn 40 Years Old. This whisky was distilled on the 23rd of December 1977. Matured in American White Oak ex-Bourbon barrels before it was finished in an Apostoles Sherry Cask. The whisky is bottled at 48,9% ABV without chill-filtration in natural colour. Time to taste. Colour: Mahogany Nose: Very dark right from the start. Treacle, waxy and vanilla The sherry influence is there, but it’s very polite and needs some time opening up. Dark chocolate, figs, plums. I also get leath ..read more

Time for a classic. Talisker 10 is one of the most widely available whiskies worldwide. So a big chance you’ve already tasted this whisky or at least seen it. The first time I tasted Talisker 10 has been years ago, but when I got some miniatures as a gift from a coworker who visisted the distillery on the Isle of Skye, I knew it was time for an official review. The whisky is bottled at 45,8% ABV. Let’s taste it. Colour: Burnt copper Nose: The nose is salty and seaweed. I also get peat, bonfire smoke, nutmeg, tobacco, some driftwood and a hint of lemon. Palate: The palate starts with pepper ..read more